Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
253. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education whether her Department has undertaken any analysis of the potential cost to State of prohibiting second-level schools from charging fees, and the likely need to provide additional exchequer funding to those schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41189/23]
View answerSection 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018, which was commenced in 2018 explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school, with some exceptions such as boarding or fee charging schools.
When a pupil is enrolled in a school certain charges may be legitimately requested from a parent such as payment for lockers, text messages or photocopied material provided by the school where the charge is reasonable and simply reflects the true costs concerned. Charges may also be requested for meals and refreshments provided pupils are not obliged to purchase same and can bring their own refreshments to school (e.g. lunchbox); or for payments in respect of extra-curricular activities provided such activities are not obligatory and individual pupils can choose whether or not to participate
Voluntary contributions may be sought from parents, provided it is made clear to parents that there is no compulsion to pay. 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.
My Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. €90 million was provided in once off funding to support schools in last year’s budget for the purposes of managing the challenge of rising energy costs. This additional grant, which issued to schools recently, was paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level and €113 at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. The Ancillary grant caters for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
The Programme for Government provides for an increase in the capitation grant and increased capitation funding for schools has been provided in recent years. Capitation rates have increased by 7.5% with all schools benefitting. Further increases in capitation will be considered as part of the budgetary process.
