Budget 2024 a missed opportunity to fund schools properly – Sorca Clarke, TD

The budget was a missed opportunity to get to grips with the key issues affecting schools through proper investment, says Sinn Féin spokesperson on education, Sorca Clarke, TD.

Teachta Clarke, representative for Longford Westmeath, said: “Schools were underfunded before Budget 2024 and remain underfunded after Budget 2024.

“Schools are on the brink of financial collapse and the government deem it acceptable to give schools the small sum of €7m towards capitation grants. This is in stark comparison to €40.2m in Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget submission.

“The missed opportunity by government to properly invest in our schools, in our children’s futures, and in families who are struggling to make ends meet in a cost-of-living crisis, is absolutely unacceptable.

“It will do nothing but exacerbate the reliance of schools on fundraising and voluntary contributions. Parents will continue to be expected to fill that gap. This is simply not good enough.

“Budget 2024 should have been a great opportunity for government to alleviate the financial burdens for schools and families – however, as INTO general secretary John Boyle put it with regards to class sizes, and I second it with regards to the underfunding of schools, the government missed an open goal.

“Sinn Féin are committed to tackling the issue of underfunding in education and will continue to put pressure on the government until schools get the funding they deserve. Government cannot keep ignoring the key issues affecting schools, teachers and pupils.”