Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
55 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will clarify the right of parents to send their children to school without having to pay a voluntary contribution where the level of contribution requested by the school would cause them difficulty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25933/06]
View answerThe position in relation to primary education is that the State is obliged under Article 42.4 of the Constitution to provide for free primary education. Accordingly, there can be no levy on parents of children attending a recognised primary school, nor can any child be refused admission, because of the non-payment of a voluntary contribution by his or her parents.
At post-primary level, it is a fundamental principle of the Free Second Level Education Scheme that no charge be made in respect of:
(a) instruction in any subject of my Department's Programme for Secondary Schools;
(b) recreation or study facilities where all pupils are expected to avail themselves of them as part of the school programme.
(c) any other activity in which all pupils are required to take part. However, voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.
This Government is strongly committed to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure that our children get the highest standard of education. With an increase of some 9%, day-to-day expenditure on education will exceed €7 billion for the first time in 2006.
The increased provision for 2006 will allow me at both primary and second level to cater inter alia for:
additional teaching resources for schools
increased per capita grants
new and refurbished accommodation
improved school transport services.
It will also allow for further enhancements in the numbers of support teachers and special needs assistants for children, of special school transport, of special classes in mainstream schools, of special schools for children and adults with special educational needs. Provision has also been made for the implementation of the new action plan for tackling disadvantage. Measures in the plan range from pre-school interventions, supports for tackling children's literacy problems, reduced pupil teacher ratios, increased capitation grants, measures to tackle early school leaving and to strengthen ties between the school, the family and the community. In addition, there are interventions in support of youth and in providing "second chance education" for young people and adults.
This Government has shown a sustained determination to expand and improve education services over recent years and will continue to prioritise it for resources and supports in the years ahead.
