Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. Can we get a commitment that if the schools, boards of management and patron bodies do not take on board the recommendations, then the Minister will actively pursue issuing his own recommendations as the powers vested in his office allow? I offer one example of a school in Cork which was recently amalgamated. Prior to the amalgamation there was a consultation process with the parents. One of the outcomes of the consultation process involved a commitment given in respect of school uniforms such that they would be phased in over several years, because of the additional costs. That was agreed but, unfortunately, it has been reneged on. I have before me a letter from one parent who has three children attending the newly amalgamated school. One of them is in sixth class and that student must get a crested uniform, a crested coat and a crested tracksuit at a considerable cost for one year only. A letter was sent out by the board of management stating that if students do not have the full uniform there will be consequences.

I will pass on information to the Minister but there is a lack of recommendations coming from the Department and this is the result. Individual boards of management are taking ludicrous decisions when it comes to school costs and I have no faith in the ability of individual boards of management to take on board the significant financial pressures that parents find themselves under.

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