Mr. Don Myers:

I would like to update the committee on what we submitted last May. The cost of school uniforms is a big issue for us. This has always been a major issue financially for parents at post-primary level. Last April, the National Parents Council Post-Primary, the National Parents Council Primary, Barnardos and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, with the support of all the other education partners, issued a document reviewing school uniform policy. This was also done with the support of the Minister for Education and Skills. As the committee will be aware, the Minister announced on 11 November that the education partners will now be invited to engage with Department officials on how to implement this change which will include compiling a template questionnaire that schools can use to consult parents on uniforms. This is very welcome and is a sign parents need to be involved. This is a start. The National Parents Council Post-Primary will engage in that dialogue on preparing the questionnaire. It is long overdue and a move in the right direction.

The cost of schoolbooks is another serious issue for the National Parents Council Post-Primary. We are aware of bills of €450 and €500 for books at post-primary level. We welcome the extra funding for book rental schemes in the primary sector and hope that funding will be put towards book rental schemes in the post-primary sector. We are aware that in the digital era, e-books are a thing of the future. The big thing is that, as of late, parents are starting to realise the licence for an e-book is a one year or a three year one and that when it expires, the book dissolves. They were not aware of that until now. There is a relatively new publisher - I have attached an appendix to the presentation for members - which has produced books at much cheaper prices, including free e-books. My argument with the publishers is that if one publisher can do this, why can the others not do so? I am not a teacher but I respect the fact the people who put these books together are teaching our education system. However, I have serious issues with the cost of books.

In regard to the transition year programme, schools are finding it difficult to maintain the service given the costs incurred. The mission statement of transition year is to promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of pupils and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society.

We would welcome help from the Department of Education and Skills on this. We are also aware that parents, in some instances, have helped schools to run programmes which would not have been possible otherwise. It is a known fact that programmes cannot be carried out in some schools because they do not have funding.

The voluntary contribution is a major burden on parents. It is sought to make up for the deficit in funding from the Department. I have a copy of a letter which was sent to a parent recently stating that her child would be enrolled in first year in September 2014, but only if she paid €300 before 25 October 2013. I cannot condone that. It is very wrong. The other side of the coin is that schools are strapped for cash. Funding is not available and such requests of parents are unfortunate. The burden is being placed on parents. Parents are overburdened and one must ask how light the lining in their pockets will become.

I welcome the announcement by the Minister of the proposed development of a parents' charter. We will have a big role to play in that. Empowerment of parents will make a big difference. Up to now parents have had no say with regard to many aspects of their children's education. Empowering parents will also help schools. Co-operation between all partners in education is key, going forward. If we can work together at national level, there is no reason co-operation at local level cannot work too. We appreciate that schools are doing their best with limited resources and we would urge Deputies to work to provide more assistance to schools.