Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
248. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the strategy to address the issue of voluntary contributions in primary and secondary schools here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38988/14]
View answerApart from those recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary and post primary schools are precluded from charging school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents 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.
It is not my Department's policy to prohibit the practice of schools seeking contributions from parents so long as it is made absolutely clear that the contributions concerned are voluntary. I have no plans to alter this position provided schools ensure that the contributions are sought in a manner that makes this clear to all concerned. It is also important that schools are cognisant of the financial pressures being experienced by many parents and that such fund-raising is carried out in a manner that is sensitive to these difficulties.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government gave approval in March of this year for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014 and the General Scheme has since been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting.
The aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. The legislative proposals will, inter alia, prohibit the charging of any fees or contributions as part of the school admission process.
I also believe that schools need to be accountable to parents and we need greater levels of communication, engagement and transparency in how schools serve their communities. Better information for parents, including information in relation to the collection and use of voluntary contributions, is an issue that I will be looking at in the context of my Department's work on developing plans for a Parents' and Students' Charter.
