TEN private schools in Dublin are increasing their fees, despite the general fall in consumer prices across the economy.
The decision to raise fees – by almost 5 per cent in some cases – reflects strong demand by parents for private education which has been largely unaffected by the economic downturn.
Overall, the total number of students in fee-paying second-level schools this year (26,277) has dipped only marginally on last year.
For the coming academic year, fees at Loreto College on St Stephen’s Green have risen by 4.6 per cent, from €3,530 to €3,700.
Four Dublin Protestant schools: St Andrew’s in Booterstown, Wesley College in Ballinteer, High School in Rathgar and Rathdown School in Glenageary have also raised their fees. The schools in question say their budgets were severely hit by the Government’s controversial withdrawal of a shared €2.8 million support services grant in 2008.
St Andrew’s College has increased its fees from €6,020 to €6,110, a rise of 1.4 per cent. The school says cutbacks in Government funding will cost it some €700,000 in this academic year.
High School has increased its fees from €4,850 to €4,950. Rathdown School has increased fees from €6,040 to €6,330, or by more than 4.5 per cent.
Other schools to raise their charges include St Gerard’s in Bray, Co Wicklow, up €250 to €6,550.
Fee increases are more modest at other well-known Dublin schools, including Gonzaga in Ranelagh (up €70 to €5,100) Mount Anville in Goatstown (up €100 to €5,000), Castleknock College (up €100 to €5,160) and St Conleth’s in Ballsbridge, up €100-€200 to €3,950.
Several schools are not increasing fees this year. They include Belvedere College (€4,940), Blackrock College (€6,300) and Alexandra College in Milltown (€6,100).
The State subsidises private schools to the tune of €100 million, most of which is used to pay teachers’ salaries. Private schools generate an additional €100 million in fee income.
Following a recent High Court ruling, private schools are entitled to pay teachers whom they directly employ less than those paid for by the Department of Education and Skills. However, the ASTI says it will fight any move to create a two-tier teaching profession.