Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

I echo the sentiments of Deputy Keating. I am aware of a school in my constituency which I will not name. There have been consistent complaints about serious pressure being put on less well-off students to come up with extra money for things that are part of the core curriculum, such as art and other subjects. Parents have had stand-up rows with a headmaster, during which they have told him that they do not have the money and that a daughter is being excluded and put under extreme pressure and anxiety.

Could a circular be sent to schools setting out in strident terms that it is unacceptable to put any pressure on students to come up with money for core curriculum subjects? Could we have a unit in the Minister's Department which people could contact if they have a problem? If schools are not obeying the rules, what can be done about it? What recourse do parents have to bring such matters to the Department's attention so that action can be taken?

See this speech in context