Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am supportive of a database being developed for the primary school system, similar to what is already in place for the secondary school system. However, genuine concerns have been expressed to me by parents and teachers, in particular school principals who are responsible for overseeing the collection of this data at primary level. This is why I have asked the questions today seeking reassurance. There has not been clarity from the Department on the development of the database or in the information being provided to schools and parents on the information being sought. I do not find in the answers which have been provided today the full reassurance I was hoping would come from having asked the question. The Minister of State has undertaken to come back to me on how this information would be retained in schools internally on their own computer systems. This is very important and I ask that the Minister of State does come back to me with further information on this. I also asked the Minister of State why this information will have to be kept until the student is 30 years of age. I did not receive a response today on why this is necessary. I do not see it myself, which is why I am asking for an explanation. We deserve this.

I am being asked whether schools will be penalised if they are not in a position to provide the information requested for the database because parents refuse to give it. As I outlined earlier, the information involved is quite sensitive. The Minister of State mentioned PPS numbers. There is also information on students' special needs, psychological assessments of students and students' racial profile, background and religion. People are increasingly concerned about how their data are kept. I would like answers on why the data must be kept for so long. Principals have been asking me what happens when a family refuses to give the information. Will the school be penalised with regard to capitation or the inclusion of the pupil in the calculation of the pupil-teacher ratio?

With regard to the financial support given to schools for this very onerous administration task being asked of them, I understand that €1.50 per pupil is allocated. This simply does not match the level of work and effort which already overstretched and financially burdened schools must undertake to collect this information. Will the Minister of State confirm the level of subsidy being given to a school? Is it €1.50? If so, how on earth was this calculation made and will the Minister of State revisit it?

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