Statement by Cllr Timothy Gaston:
“Rural Schools by their nature face problems that urban schools may not usually face. It is important that the funding criteria reflects this.
“A significant part of the Common Funding Formula, the criteria by which schools are allocated a certain amount of funding, is the number of pupils entitled to free school meals. In rural areas the uptake for free school meals is very low. This has a knock on effect.
“It is important that parents/guardians apply for free school meals if they are entitled to, but it is equally important that the Department of Education take into account the particular circumstances facing rural schools. In this regard I believe the Common Funding Formula to be outdated and not equal to the task it is set out to achieve – the allocation on need of funding.
“I am calling on the Education Minister to take a fresh look at funding allocations with a view to stop starving rural schools.”