Mr. Don Myers:

Deputy Ray Butler raised a very interesting point in regard to patrons' involvement in decisions on such issues as uniforms. In some schools parents have a say in those types of decisions, but in more schools they do not. It is perhaps going too far to say they are dictated to, but in many cases parents have little say on these matters. I spoke last night with a person whose child will go into first year in September. This parent has received a request from the school for €100, comprising €50 for the book rental scheme and a €50 contribution to running costs. The letter states: "The additional €50 annual contribution is to cover costs such as student journals, personal accident insurance, locker rental, photocopying, newsletters, school reports and telephone and postage communication with parents". Any parent receiving such a letter will be given pause for thought. It could certainly be argued that it is ultimately down to the patron to step up to the mark on such issues as school uniform costs. After all, the board of management is acting on behalf of the patron. As such, it is not really feasible for any patron to claim it has no control over what the board does.

In regard to iPads and other communications devices, we have fought vigorously in regard to costing. The bottom line is that iPad devices are working out at approximately €500 apiece. We are arguing over school books costing €450, yet at the same time we are talking about a device that costs €500 before one purchases a single book. A sense of perspective is vital in this discussion. We have gone down the road of Android devices, which are half the price, and one publisher has even got into QR codes. There is certainly a momentum in this regard.

Ms Lynch made a vital point regarding the number of books in the system. At post-primary level, publishers are telling us that only a tiny percentage of books are updated every year. Yet parents tell us the costs arising from the incidence of new editions is crippling. All of the costs are falling back to parents. I endorse everything that was said by my colleagues in this regard - we are getting hammered. Parent associations were not set up to engage in fund-raising for schools. That was never their intended purpose and that is the message we must drive home. The function of parent associations is to allow parents a role in seeking to address difficulties that arise in the running of their children's school and to offer suggestions for improvements. We are willing to play our part in whatever way we can, but there is little we can do without support.