Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the introduction of measures to reduce the financial burden on parents when paying for school uniforms at primary and post primary level. [26073/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme, operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides support for eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. As the Deputy is aware, eligibility for the back to school allowance is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection and is, therefore, primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

Decisions regarding each school's policy with regard to school uniforms are dealt with at local school level. My Department recommends that the formulation of such a school policy should allow for prior consultation with teachers, parents and pupils where appropriate and enable any concerns about the issue of cost to be raised and considered. I encourage schools to consider, where possible, the use of generic uniforms or any other measures that can reduce the cost for parents of school uniforms.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Acting Chairman, the Minister and Deputies for allowing my continued presence in the Chamber. I am surprised the Ceann Comhairle was not notified because as early as last week, Deputy Crowe had asked me to tender his apologies for being unable to be present today. He had planned to be absent this week before the rota was agreed to.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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For the information of the Deputy, I am advised there must be an application to the Ceann Comhairle's office and that seemingly did not happen.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I understand.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As we have made our decision, the Deputy should proceed.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Acting Chairman. Before turning to this question, I commend Deputy Smith on his question. I ask the Minister to consider another perspective on it because people in rural areas who consider fees, transport charges, changes in maintenance grants and to the guidelines concerning the distance from education centres, may conclude that education and third level education in particular will be the preserve only of the sons and daughters of the very wealthy. This wider perspective must be taken into account.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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As for this question, my party colleague, Deputy Crowe, raised this issue with the Minister more than a year ago. The Minister made a commitment to consider implementing measures that would help to alleviate the burden on hard-pressed parents who are obliged to pay for school uniforms. While this may be stating the obvious, a growing number of families are struggling to pay for even the most essential items and the start of a new school term can be a very difficult time. A survey carried out last year by the Irish League of Credit Unions found that on average, €400 will be spent annually on each individual child attending school. It is a serious amount of money that increases further when combined with additional expenses, such as paying for books and being obliged to make the so-called voluntary contributions to school funds. Many parents are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the rising costs of sending a child to school.

I understand that when this issue was raised at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education, the Minister agreed to consider introducing a number of initiatives, including standardising the design and colours of uniforms and providing an option for parents to sew on the school crests. These are relatively simple but highly practical measures that would allow families the opportunity to shop around for better deals and not to be forced to rely on a select number of retail outlets, which often charge outrageous prices for uniforms. As the end of the current school term approaches, can the Minister provide an assurance that the Department will implement the type of cost saving measures that can ease some of the financial burdens faced by parents when sending their children to school? More must be done than has been the case heretofore. I acknowledge there are areas of overlap between the Departments of Social Protection and Education and Skills and traditionally, the approach has been to leave it up to each local school to do its own thing. However, leadership is required in this regard and the Minister is the person to provide it. An indication from the Minister that this would be welcomed by the Department of Education and Skills would make a big difference and perhaps would prompt schools to introduce this simple but highly cost-effective measure.

I also encourage the Department of Education and Skills to promote a policy that would encourage parents to pass on their school uniforms, which often must be replaced annually, as children quickly outgrow them. Such uniforms could be re-used by other children at a fraction of the cost of being discarded automatically. When one considers that on average, it costs €470 for a second level student and €320 for a child attending primary school, everything possible must be done to reduce the cost of clothing a child in a school uniform. Charities such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are doing their level best to meet these rocketing costs and the Government must do likewise. I urge the Minister to do all within his power to introduce these measures that can help alleviate the cost to parents.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy is asking me to do all I can within my power to alleviate the cost and I will do this. However, my power is somewhat limited. I have already had informal discussions with the National Parents Council at primary level in this regard and in the first instance, I recommend that it should mobilise the parents associations and parents' representatives on boards of management, at both primary and secondary level, to raise this issue with the school authorities. There is a very simple and practical formula that is available, that is, for the large suppliers to produce a generic range, which already happens. The Deputy is familiar with the school system and I note there are approximately five generic colours that are provided for school uniforms across the system. This could, in a highly competitive manner, provide those garments at a relatively cheap price, certainly much cheaper than what the bespoke school uniforms cost. All that would be required for the school to do would be to sell the emblem, badge or crest and for the parents to undertake that. However, I must stress such an arrangement must be made between the school authorities and the parents. I can encourage it and in response to the Deputy's question, I now do so. Moreover, I will again raise it formally. However, while nothing will happen for the forthcoming academic year, it is something that should be seriously considered for the next academic year after that.