Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The book rental scheme was a huge success. A survey report came through this committee which among other issues referred to donations to schools. There are schools in my area asking for €100 per locker key. If students do not give the €100 they do not get the key. Therefore, children have to carry their school books and school bags around until they give €100. In my area there are schools with an enrolment of between 500 and 600 pupils, therefore the cost works out at approximately €50,000 to €60,000. Do the Department or the schools themselves hold accounts on these donations and where do the donations go? It is discrimination against students and amounts to huge pressure on parents. I have had many parents in my constituency office saying they could not afford the €100 or the €150 for two students. Basically, we are going back to two for the price of one. What is going on with these donations is scandalous. If we were serious about the report conducted last year the Government should have said this has to stop because it is discrimination of the highest order. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, and ask him in the next 12 months to put an end to these donations.