Terence Flanagan
Question:175 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a secondary school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12439/12]
View answerTuesday, 6 March 2012
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Written answers
The position in relation to entrance fees is that a key requirement for all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme is that the school does not operate a charge, in whatever form, that is in effect a mandatory fee and that is contrary to the principle of not charging fees. Voluntary contributions may be sought from parents, provided it is made clear to parents that there is no compulsion to pay and that a child's place in the school or continued enrolment is not dependant on a willingness to make a contribution.
Registration fees are sometimes requested by schools in order to avoid "double booking" of pupils in schools. Under current arrangements, schools are allowed to request a booking fee/registration fee when considering applicants for enrolment, provided this is refundable at all times following a decision on enrolment. The Department is strongly supportive of the integration of ICT tools and techniques into teaching practice. The Department's ICT in schools programme sets out a clear agenda to be pursued in this regard and schools are very much encouraged to plan for the integration of ICT into teaching practice as part of their Whole School Planning process.
However, decisions on the specific ICT devices used to support teaching and learning and the extent to which such technology is used in place of traditional textbooks is an operational matter for the Board of Management of each school and my Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives. I believe it is important that where new technology is being adopted by schools, the costs of this transition are borne in mind by schools so that parents are not left in a difficult financial situation.