A Dublin primary school that was on the brink of closure due to severe financial difficulties will remain open following intervention from the Department of Education, which has agreed to provide an early payment of the Capitation Grant.
Sacred Heart Junior School in Killinarden, Tallaght, had warned parents last week that it would be forced to close its doors from April 1 and “teach remotely” as it would no longer have sufficient funds “to pay our basic bills.” Principal Orla McLoughlin had described the situation as a “major financial crisis” in a letter to parents.
The Department of Education has now stepped in by advancing the Capitation Grant that was originally scheduled for June. This grant, which is calculated based on student enrollment numbers, will be paid before the end of this week to address the school’s immediate cash flow problems.
Additionally, the school is now working with the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), a Department-funded body that assists school boards in managing their financial responsibilities, to assess its overall financial position.
Local Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart stated that the Department has requested further details from the school to “ensure appropriate and targeted support can be provided” and is maintaining “direct contact with the school and the patron to ensure continued financial stability.”
While Lahart expressed optimism that these measures will “provide much-needed stability for students and staff,” he acknowledged that a “medium to long term plan is required” to address the underlying issues.
According to The Journal, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, whose constituency includes the school, was more critical of the solution. He described the situation as “incredible” and argued that advancing the Capitation Grant “doesn’t deal with the underlying issue and just kicks the can down the road.”
Murphy highlighted that the school serves “one of the most deprived communities in the country” and said he plans to raise the matter in the Dáil. He contrasted the school’s struggle for “a few tens of thousands of euros to remain open” with the funding available to private educational institutions.
The school’s financial challenges had caused significant concern among the community, particularly for families of children with additional needs who rely on the school’s specialized support services.