Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their submissions. My first question is directed at Mr. Loftus. I welcome the report and the further allocation of funds in the budget for the book rental scheme at primary level. While I understand there are many constraints with regard to the roll-out of the book rental scheme at second level, are there any plans or discussions with regard to rolling out such a plan for second level schools? I have taught in both a vocational school and in a voluntary secondary school. The vocational school operated a book rental scheme and I found it more economical. Students seemed to take greater care of the books because they had to hand them back at the end of the year in good order. Senator D'Arcy mentioned school jumpers being left lying around at the end of the year. In my 25 years teaching I have seen schoolbooks left lying around by students who had no respect for them at all. Significant savings could be made in this area. Are there any plans for rolling out the book rental scheme at second level? I understand the issues that will arise with such a scheme, but we should collaborate and consider it.

I am and have been a strong advocate of school uniforms over the years. As a parent of five children, I know the cost of school uniforms with crests is significant. I welcome the initiative being introduced by the Minister for Education and Skills and would give him an A1 for his effort in this area. This is an initiative that should have been introduced years ago. Fr. Connell referred to two particular clothing shops and implied that cheaper means a poorer quality. I disagree. Great quality can be obtained at a lower cost. Some of my children were required to have a crested polo shirt for PE, at five times the price a normal polo shirt of equal quality was available elsewhere. I find this unacceptable. Parents are concerned about this and some have come to me to express their concerns that some schools have a policy of insisting uniforms are bought from specific shops. I welcome the announcement made the other day in this regard.

I understand the view expressed by Fr. Connell and Mr. Kelly and understand the difficulties with regard to instituting a new book rental scheme in secondary schools. I have read through the lengthy task list they provided and appreciate it involves significant extra work at both the start and the end of the year. How much work would be involved throughout the year? I do not believe we should say "no" to a book rental scheme at second level because of the extra work involved. What additional requirements are necessary to implement such a scheme?

Does the JMB believe, as expressed in its submission, that it is Government policy to grossly underfund education? I may be incorrect, but a comment the witnesses made was that it is Government policy to make books expensive. What is the JMB's view on in this regard? I may have taken this up wrongly, but I noted it at the time.

With regard to the link between parents and the JMB, it is stated in the submission that schools and parents should not be adversaries. I agree. While there were many positive comments on the management of schools in the recent chief inspector's report, it stated in the report that only 56% of parents surveyed during the inspections in 2012 indicated that the board of management reported annually to them on the work of the school. This is something that needs to be addressed. Only 44% of the parents surveyed that the schools regularly sought parental views on school matters. The JMB has stated that accounts from the board of management are freely available. What measures are in place to make parents aware that board of management accounts are available? Sometimes parents do not even know their parental representatives on the board of management, not to mind having access to the accounts.