I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House and thank him for taking this Adjournment matter. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, on his reforms and investment in the educational sector.
I want the Minister for Education and Science to address the anomaly and the cost factor that exists for insurance between the voluntary secondary school and the community or vocational school. Under current legislation, voluntary schools must meet their responsibility for insurance while those in the community or vocational sector have their insurance paid for by the State. That is a serious imposition on the voluntary school sector and I ask that the Minister examine it with a view to creating an even playing field between those who provide education at second level.
An example was provided by the umbrella body for voluntary secondary schools. Since 1999, a school of some 500 pupils has had its insurance costs increase from €24,000 to €35,000. I am aware that in smaller schools the costs have increased from approximately €6,000 to €14,000. In those situations we are talking about increases from 50% to 112%. That is not a cost that can be absorbed by the people in charge of these voluntary schools. If they do, it is at a cost to other services they provide at the school. Those cut backs have to be implemented in areas such as heating, lighting, essential repairs and other materials. Classroom supplies, such as paper, chalk and laboratory equipment must be cut back. It is a serious matter for voluntary schools. We appreciate and thank the religious orders who played an enormous role in this area and who ploughed a great deal of money into it. Listening to the public debate about their contribution, one would think they had a negative effect on the education system. However, I reject that and compliment them on what they have done over the years.
People in charge of schools in the voluntary sector must pay insurance costs from their budgets, unlike those in the vocational and community sector. It must be borne in mind that they get full insurance cover from the State. I was told today by a principal of a school in my constituency that his costs increased from €5,700 to €14,000 between 1999 and 2003. That is an enormous burden. He has asked, through the joint managerial body which represents voluntary and secondary schools of all denominations – we are not talking about particular religious denominations – for that issue to be considered. They still account for 60% of all post-primary pupils and play an important role in this area.
Secondary school management boards expect the Government to recognise the extraordinary efforts they continue to make by providing them with the same funding as other second level schools. They have three demands, but their main one is that the payment of insurance grants to all voluntary schools should be put on the same footing as other second level schools. That is the thrust of my argument.