Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
360. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts he is making to reduce the cost for parents of children beginning school and children returning to school after the summer holidays; the progress that has been made; the measures or plans he would like to see in place in advance of the next school year to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38063/13]
View answerTackling the costs associated with school is a major priority of mine. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have taken a number of steps aimed at helping reduce the burden on families.
I have met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and have received a commitment from them to limit the publication of new editions of textbooks and to maintain editions of books in print, unchanged for at least six years. The publishers have also assured me that they would sell books for rental schemes to schools at substantial discounts.
The Deputy will also be aware that I am very much in favour of schools establishing textbook rental schemes. I launched new "Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools" on the 28th January last. These Guidelines provide practical advice to primary and post-primary schools on how rental schemes can be established and operated. The aim of the Guidelines is to help as many schools as possible to start such book rental programmes.
I have also been clear in my support for any measures that can be put in place to reduce uniform costs for parents including measures such as the use of generic type uniforms or the use of "sew on" crests. I have raised this matter informally with the National Parents Council at primary level and recommended that the National Parents Councils – Primary and Post Primary mobilise parents associations to raise this issue with school authorities.
It is very important that all schools are sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decisions, not just about school uniforms or books, but about any matter that has cost implications for parents.
I believe that schools should consult parents on matters relating to their children's education, including those matters which have cost implications, and schools should be responsive to the views and concerns of parents. In that regard, I believe that requiring schools to have a parent and student charter can help ensure that schools will interact better with individual parents and with the parent associations generally. The cost of school uniforms is one area where there should be a shared view.
The creation of parents' and students' charters, including an examination of any required legislation, will be among the issues to be progressed by my Department over the next year.
