Podcasts · Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

The True Cost of Underfunding in Irish Primary Schools

31 Mar 2025 · 35 min

In this episode, I explore the issue of underfunding in Irish primary schools, using the example of Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden, Dublin, which announced it would operate remotely due to financial constraints. I delve into the history and structure of funding for primary schools, highlighting how the Department of Education's capitation grants have not kept pace with rising costs, such as electricity, gas, and wages. As usual I critique the patronage system and propose that the Department of Education should be directly responsible for the financial management of schools to address these ongoing challenges.

All shownotes and data available on: https://simonmlewis.medium.com/a-school-may-have-to-close-due-to-lack-of-funding-how-has-it-come-to-this-9392b568977b

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• 00:43 Case Study: Sacred Heart Junior National School • 03:01 Funding Challenges in Irish Primary Schools • 03:48 Detailed Analysis of School Funding • 06:31 Impact of Rising Costs on Schools • 09:29 Historical Context and Comparisons • 27:51 Proposed Solutions and Conclusion

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Links in the notes 3

• https://simonmlewis.medium.com/a-school-may-have-to-close-due-to-lack-of-funding-how-has-it-come-to-this-9392b568977b
• https://www.anseo.net/subscribe
• https://simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2

The episode on the publisher’s site ↗ (opens in a new tab)