asked the Minister for Education whether he will consider the advisability of abolishing the school fees payable in Model Schools, in so far as they affect the pupils who are the children of labourers, and if not, whether he will consider having all books necessary for home study supplied to such pupils free of charge, as the parents and guardians find it a great hardship to be obliged to pay school fees and purchase all books necessary for home study.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MODEL SCHOOL FEES.
Prior to 1892 fees at varying rates were chargeable in ordinary and Model National Schools. Under the Irish Education Act of 1892 provision was made for the abolition of school fees in all schools in which the average annual fee collected was less than 6/- per pupil. Where the sum collected was in excess of 6/- per pupil per annum the amount chargeable in these schools was limited to an average annual amount per pupil (3 to 15 years of age) represented by the excess over 6/- per pupil.
Where fees are charged the teachers in the schools get the benefit of the money collected. The number of schools, however, in which fees are now chargeable is very small. It is open to the principal teacher of such a school to admit a number of the pupils free.
The question of the abolition of the fees or the provision of all books necessary for home study is a financial question with which I am not at present in a position to deal.