Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I announced the review last December in the context of the budget, where I made a further one-point change to the staffing allocation of fee-charging schools. I indicated at the time that the purpose of the review would be to inform future policy in respect of Exchequer support for these schools. The review will be completed in the coming months and in time to inform Government deliberations on the next budget.

The majority of fee-paying schools have responded to a request from my officials seeking initial information regarding tuition fees charged for the academic year 2011-12. Reminders have issued to a small number of schools. Once complete, this information will enable a calculation of the gross income from tuition fees in respect of each school and it will be related to the Exchequer resources foregone by each school because it is a fee-charging school. The information will be shared with the schools and each school will be provided with an opportunity to provide any further information on its finances and liabilities that may have an impact on the level of fee income it actually has available.

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