Mr. Caoimhín Ó hEaghra:

I echo many of the points made by Mr. Ferdia Kelly and Ms Eileen Flynn. Many of the school under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta are newer schools. There is the issue of identity and with that comes the uniform and the crest. There has been a move at local level to address the cost of the uniform and the trend has been to choose items such as trousers and tops that can be purchased in Dunnes Stores. The cost arises with the crest on the school jumper. Some schools have a mechanism for having a more cost effective crest and some do without a crest. This is an issue that is decided at local level with parents and management. Generally the decision is based on the parents' requirements. There are no guidelines on a uniforms.