Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Schools are entitled to a voluntary contribution and many parents are happy to pay it if they are in a position to do so. Of the 730 post-primary schools, only 55 are fee charging. There are no proposals to increase this number. In fact, inquiries are being made by some fee-charging schools as to whether they will enter the free education scheme. Under no circumstances can a school in the mainstream, non-fee-charging sector where it receives money from the Department - taxpayers' money, not the Department's money - charge compulsory contributions or fees of whatever kind.

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