: asked the Minister for Education if it is permissible for schools in the free post-primary education scheme to insist that parents purchase school uniforms for their children.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - School Uniforms .
43.
: The question of school uniforms in post-primary schools is primarly a matter for the authorities of the schools concerned. My Department have not made any formal provision concerning this matter.
: Would the Minister not agree that it makes nonsense of the free education scheme if a child attending a school in that scheme is sent home because he or she has not got an item of a school uniform?
: If the Deputy has any particular cases in mind where this has happened I would like if he would inform me about them.
: Would the Minister not agree that there is little point in my informing him about the matter unless he is prepared to do something about it? Would he not agree that it is totally in conflict with the spirit of the free education scheme that a child's parents should be forced to lay out in some cases hundreds of pounds on a school uniform for a school which does not charge fees and, therefore, gets in under the free education scheme?
: The Deputy may be using exaggerated language but hundreds of pounds for school uniforms seems to me to be getting into the area of haute couture.
: The Minister has not replied to my question. Is he aware that there are schools in the free education scheme where the school uniform kit will cost over £100 per child? Will he tell the House and the school authorities concerned that it is not permissible to turn away a child from the door of their school because that child is not wearing a school blazer?
: It would not be the Minister's wish that anybody should be excluded from a school because he or she has not money.
: Will the Minister do something about it?
: As the Deputy seems to have a great deal of information, perhaps he would bring to my attention the particular cases he has in mind?
: I will if the Minister will do something about it. Will the Minister ensure that the right of a child——
: I await information from the Deputy.
: Will the Minister ensure that a child's right to attend school is not taken from him by that school because his parents cannot afford a basic item of clothing?
: It is basic to the philosophy of this party that lack of money should not deprive a child of education. Any progressive action taken on education has been taken by this party.
: With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of this question.
: I will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.