According to new figures, the taxpayer is subsidising 50 private secondary schools by more than €140 million euro a year.

In their education manifesto, the Labour Party promised a ban on voluntary fees and an increase in capitation grants that contribute to paying for everyday school operational costs.

The party has also called for State funding of private schools to come to an end.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that a "uniformity of approach" is needed across the education system.

“There are fee-paying schools at primary school level that aren’t supported at all by the State,” he said.

“So, I think what we need to do is have a uniformity of approach across the primary and secondary school system, that the State makes a kind of value judgement that we need to support schools that are completely inclusive and not those that exclude those for various different reasons, including income.”

Students in a classroom, © PA Archive/PA Images

Mr Ó Ríordáin rejected the idea that parents who send their children to fee paying schools care more than those who don’t.

“It’s regularly said by those in the system as well, with school principals as well that, you know, their parents care,” he said.

“It gives the impression that their parents care more, they make more sacrifices.

“Everybody who sends their child to whatever school cares, so I don’t really buy that argument.

“There’s any amount of parents who have very, very little resources, who struggle even to pay the voluntary contribution that request of some schools.”

Inclusivity

According to Mr Ó Ríordáin, the State should focus on schools that prioritise inclusivity.

“The focus of the Department of Education has to be on the schools that are inclusive, that deal with all children of all backgrounds, all students of all backgrounds," he said.

"[These schools] grapple with any amount of difficulties that parents and communities suffer and open their schools up to all sorts of issues - and triumph daily at overcoming those issues.

"[They are] not exclusive when it comes to people of certain backgrounds coming into their schools."

Mr Ó Ríordáin said that private schools sell themselves on a promise of exclusivity.

Featured image: File photo dated 12/09/18 of a teacher and students in a classroom.