Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
478. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection on tackling back to school costs, published in June 2013. [32697/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Joint Oireachtas Report on school costs was published in 2013.
Given the wide ranging nature of the issues raised in the report it is not feasible to provide an estimated cost for its implementation.
Notwithstanding this, I wish to make clear that I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents.
To deliver on my ambition to be the best we have to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students, particularly in relation to costs.
I want to give parents a strong voice in ensuring costs are always kept to a minimum. My Department published Circular Letter 32/2017 which details the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. The publication of this Circular was one of the actions outlined in the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019.
Schools have to do everything possible to keep costs down for parents, including the use of generic items, sew on or iron on crests, and making sure that various elements of the uniform can be purchased in multiple stores.
In the Action Plan for Education I have committed to the restoration of capitation payments and increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce or eliminate school book costs for parents.
I believe that full transparency in relation to the use of any voluntary contributions is important information for parents to have. The Parent and Student Charter will require every school to set out a financial statement, which will include information on how any voluntary contributions are used.
This is part of a suite of measures including legislation regarding School Admissions which is intended to reform information and procedures around the process of school enrolment, and the commencement of fitness to teach, which for the first time allows a complaint to be made about a registered teacher to the Teaching to Council.
My colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, has also increased the back to school allownce by €2.1m this year, bringing the total investment in the scheme to €49.5m.
I believe that these actions will significantly strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents.
