Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the controls that will be implemented to assist families who are expected to make a voluntary registration fee at the start of every year for primary and secondary school students, who are also expected to pay €40 to €80 for photocopying services for the year as well as anything from €100 to €300 for extra curriculum such as sport, drama, music ; if he will implement regulations to assist families who do not qualify for the back to school grant and who are not in a position to meet these extra payments; his views that the term free education is now redundant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19026/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is not my Department's policy to prohibit the practice of schools seeking contributions from parents as long as it is made absolutely clear that the contributions concerned are voluntary. The manner in which contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management. However, their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character. I have no plans to alter this position provided schools ensure the contributions are sought in a manner that makes this clear to all concerned.

In regard to payments sought for photocopying services, a school may seek payment to cover the cost of photocopied or other such learning materials where the amount sought by the school is consistent with the costs involved and the level of materials provided. It is also permissible for a school to seek payments in respect of extra-curricular activities, provided such activities are not obligatory and individual pupils can choose whether to participate. No charge may be made, however, in respect of instruction in any subject of the school curriculum or recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to take part.

Regarding possible regulations, the Deputy may be aware that I have recently launched a discussion paper on a regulatory framework for school enrolment which contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent. While I do not propose to comment on the nature of any regulations that might result from this process, I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the issue of financial contributions is raised in the paper. The Deputy may wish to note that I am inviting interested parties to submit their views to my Department by 28 October 2011.

I acknowledge that our current economic difficulties mean that schools are under increased funding pressures and that for many schools, fund-raising is an important additional source of income. However, it is also important that schools are cognisant of the financial pressures that many parents are experiencing and that such fund-raising is carried out in a manner that is sensitive to these difficulties.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply for which I am very grateful. I know he will agree that investment in education will form a central part of our country's national recovery and anything that obstructs education for our children, young adults and parents engaged in back-to-education schemes will affect our recovery into the medium to long term. I received a copy of a letter recently which is typical of those sent to many families throughout the Dublin region, setting out the costs of various items that will be required before September. Many families have two, three or four children in school.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to frame a question.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I ask for the indulgence of the Chair for 20 seconds. Some of the costs add up to almost €600. When one factors in two, three or four children, one would have very little change from €2,000 for 2011-2012. It is not an exaggeration to say that many people find it restrictive. I ask the Minister in the interests of common sense that a directive be issued to schools. The Department could show leadership and help control some of the costs which are restrictive, especially for families who do not avail of the back-to-school allowance. Such families are the focus of my question.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for raising these matters in a supplementary question. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the National Parents Council and others have raised two issues with me. One is the frequent change of books on the curriculum and so-called revised editions where the amount of revision is minimal. I met the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the National Parents Council and representatives of the publishers and will meet them again. We will be actively exploring with effect from the following academic year the benefits of a book lending scheme in schools.

If one has two or three children, one frequently finds that a book the eldest child was using for geography is not the same as that required for the youngest, even though the rivers and mountains of Ireland have not changed in the meantime. There are similar concerns in respect of uniforms, where parents have to buy them from a designated vendor. Generic grey, blue, green and red uniforms are sold in large retail stores and if schools confined themselves to selling their badge or emblem, we could seriously address the cost issues. I am actively exploring those areas.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for the supplementary answer. It will be of great assistance and comfort to parents in the years ahead as we face difficult challenges.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I echo the sentiments of Deputy Keating. I am aware of a school in my constituency which I will not name. There have been consistent complaints about serious pressure being put on less well-off students to come up with extra money for things that are part of the core curriculum, such as art and other subjects. Parents have had stand-up rows with a headmaster, during which they have told him that they do not have the money and that a daughter is being excluded and put under extreme pressure and anxiety.

Could a circular be sent to schools setting out in strident terms that it is unacceptable to put any pressure on students to come up with money for core curriculum subjects? Could we have a unit in the Minister's Department which people could contact if they have a problem? If schools are not obeying the rules, what can be done about it? What recourse do parents have to bring such matters to the Department's attention so that action can be taken?

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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What is really galling for many parents is the fact that these payments are supposedly voluntary. When addressing some of the teachers' conferences, the Minister referred to the book-lending scheme initiative and also said he would not put new books on the curriculum. We all support that initiative but how will it be rolled out? No one should be putting families under extra pressure, particularly in the current difficult climate.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I will respond first to what Deputy Boyd Barrett said. Within the primary school structure there are parents' representatives on the boards of management. Therefore, if any parents feel they have been unduly pressurised, I suggest their first port of call should be to the parents' representative. In the post-primary sector, depending on the school, parental representation is not as transparent because the structures are different. If they cannot, or do not want to for personal reasons, go to a parents' representative on that board of management, I recommend that they contact the National Parents' Council and express their concerns there. The National Parents' Council is a recognised partner in the education sector, so that is the way I would recommend them to go if they do not feel personally that they wish to contact the school's board of management.

With regard to Deputy Crowe's point, school uniform and book-lending schemes will reduce the turnover involved. A decision to change, for example, a geography book for 90 junior cycle children has implications. We are talking about books that cost €24 each. A schoolbook lending scheme will prolong the life of the volumes and reduces the costs involved. The primary school survey that must be completed by October each year contains a question about book-lending schemes. We do not know how many such schemes there are, and they can operate in different ways. We are hoping to get a best practice model that can operate in primary schools and another model for secondary schools. If it happens, it will not be in the current academic year but hopefully it will start to happen next year.