Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask about voluntary contributions in schools. A report published by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul today found that, of the 1,500 respondents to its survey, more than 90% said that they were going without because they would have to cover the voluntary contribution, which is only rarely voluntary. Some 671,000 people are at risk of poverty and one would imagine that many of the survey's respondents were already cutting their cloth very finely, perhaps even to the bone.

During austerity, the capitation grant, which covers the basis running costs of schools per pupil, was cut from €345 to €309. Will the Government prioritise an increase in the capitation grant and the introduction of free schoolbooks at second level and will it introduce a regulation to monitor and remove voluntary contributions from our schools? Very few schools acknowledge the fact that these are voluntary contributions. There is nothing voluntary in a parent being told that, if he or she is experiencing difficulties, he or she should go in and speak to the school.

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