Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This probably really comes in under subhead A10 but the Chairman will probably let me away with it. It is about capitation. The circular on school costs issued by the Minister last week is all bark and no bite. The Minister set down a list of rules for schools to comply with but in respect of the capitation grant, he said that when resources allow, he would put in some penalty or give some incentive for schools to comply with the circular. Are schools obliged to comply with the circular? Are manufactured-in crests illegal or can schools continue to do what they have always done? The circular says that all elements of a school uniform shall be purchasable from various stores but it then goes on to talk about how exclusive supply arrangements must go out to tender. I do not know the exact text because my iPad has died. Those two statements seem to conflict. The circular says that elements of a uniform shall be purchasable from various stores but then envisages exclusive supply. When will these penalties or incentives be brought in? What happens if schools do not comply with the circular in the mean time?