Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My Sinn Féin colleagues brought forward the Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill in 2021. I understand that the Minister did not oppose this Bill, but she has not acted upon it. That Bill would have placed an obligation on schools to make clear to families that contributions are voluntary. It would ensure that no child is stigmatised or denied opportunities because their parents cannot pay the contribution. It would place an obligation on the Department to publish online the total amount collected in voluntary contributions and set out how this money is being spent in each school.

A report from the Catholic Primary School Management Association, CPSMA, in October 2023 said that parental contributions amounted to an estimated €54 million nationally, and that almost half of primary schools surveyed were running deficits, with the averages being from €10,000 to €35,000. There is obviously an issue here. Will the Minister act on the Sinn Féin Bill and facilitate a full and independent analysis of the level and effectiveness of funding?

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