Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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We raise this issue at this time every year. Students are no sooner out of school on their summer holidays than parents start to worry and fret about the cost of sending them back to school at the end of August and the start of September. The Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, may be aware of the recent publication of a survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions.

It indicates the financial pressures parents find themselves under when sending their children back to school. I acknowledge that there were some positives in that report. For example, the cost of sending a child back to primary school has reduced from €122 to €116. However, the cost of sending a child to post-primary school has risen significantly.

When one looks at the report and listens to what parents tell us, it is clear this is a huge issue. A total of 70% of the parents surveyed said that the cost of sending their children back to school will negatively impact on their ability to pay basic household bills. Furthermore, 16% of families who responded said that they will have to sacrifice spending on food to meet the costs of sending their children back to school. A total of 16% of families in this State who are sending children back to school face the situation of having to reduce their grocery bills to meet back to school costs.

The education committee has examined this issue and put forward recommendations. While I agree with the Minister on many matters, I have said from that outset that when I believe she is not doing enough to tackle an issue I will call her out on it. She is not doing enough on this issue. To be honest, she is not doing anything about it. She has put the responsibility back on the shoulders of parents to lobby the boards of management in respect of back to school costs. That is simply not good enough. The Oireachtas Library & Research Service research unit did a research paper on this for me. It states, and the education committee and I agree, that the Minister has statutory powers under the Education Act 1998 to make recommendations on this or any issue which affects schools. In fact, a previous Fianna Fáil Minister made recommendations in 2008 on the issue of school uniforms.

School uniforms are one of the huge costs in sending children back to school. Another is the cost of school books. On top of that there is the cost of voluntary contributions, which average €112. In my experience as a parent, many of these voluntary contributions are not voluntary. In many cases students who do not pay the voluntary contribution do not have access to lockers, libraries and other school facilities. There is nothing voluntary about these contributions.

In recent years there has been a decrease in capitation grants for schools. Schools are trying to operate on less funding with more students and they are unable to make ends meet. The burden is falling back onto the shoulders of parents. The Minister must confront this issue.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have seen the report of the Irish League of Credit Unions to which the Deputy refers. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it is hugely important for parents throughout Ireland. I welcome the opportunity to debate it in the House.

Everybody accepts that back to school costs place a burden on families. The Government is taking action to help reduce those costs and to provide direct support to those families that need it most. There are four areas I wish to mention - the cost of school books, the cost of uniforms, voluntary contributions and the payment of back to school allowances.

With regard to textbook costs, an agreement was reached by my predecessor with the Irish Educational Publishers' Association which resulted in the agreement of a code of practice. The code commits the publishers to limit the publication of new editions and to maintaining editions of books in print unchanged for at least six years. The publishers have also given assurances that they will sell textbooks to schools at discounts so schools can purchase textbooks in bulk to stock book rental schemes.

Book rental schemes are the most effective method of reducing the cost of school books for parents across the country. Since we came into Government, school book grants have been protected, and we also increased the investment to ensure that all schools can offer book rental schemes. We spent approximately €6.7 million in 2014 to give seed capital to 400 schools that do not have book rental schemes so they could establish them. In 2015 and 2016, we are increasing that investment to give additional support to the other schools which already had book rental schemes established before that point, to allow them to expand their schemes. In total, we have invested €15.6 million specifically on expanding book rental schemes over these three years. This is on top of the €15 million spent annually on book grants for schools, which can be used for the maintenance and upkeep of book rental stock.

The National Parents' Council surveyed the views of its members on the book rental schemes that are currently operating. Parents have reported that where book rental schemes operate, they are open to all parents in 95% of cases and that the cost per child is under €40 per year in a considerable majority of schools. Perhaps most tellingly, the survey found that 93% of parents believe that book rental schemes help with the costs of educating a child. The Government has shown a clear commitment to investing in book rental schemes, and we have every intention of continuing to do so.

School uniforms are a more challenging area, and I am aware that Deputy O'Brien has made some suggestions in that regard. Obviously the approach we are taking on book rental schemes cannot be replicated for school uniforms. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that lowering costs should be the primary factor in school uniform policies. Individual schools have the right to decide on their policy in this area, but I am anxious to have greater consultation and the involvement of parents in these decisions. I recall the frustration of stitching a school crest onto a jumper each year as my son grew bigger over the years. Many other parents are obliged to do that where the school has an embedded school crest on the school uniform. I do not believe there should be such crests. A generic option should be chosen.

My focus is on giving parents a greater say in school policies that affect them. I will be working in the coming months on a parents and students charter that will give a greater role to parents in formulating policies such as these. As the Deputy suggested, perhaps a Minister can be more clear in terms of directing schools but a parents and students charter will give more clout, as it were, to parents in this regard.

Regarding voluntary contributions, we all know that these are requested by many, but not all, schools in Ireland. One point on which the Deputy will agree is that there is a clear need for parents to know that such contributions must be voluntary. There can be no compunction involved. My Department is ready and willing to take action where there are any allegations of pressure on parents or students. I am anxious to see the reliance on voluntary contributions in schools diminished.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister must conclude as she is over time.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I acknowledge that there have been reductions in capitation but that is one of the areas I hope to be able to examine in the budget. I should also refer to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The code of practice regarding books is voluntary. There is no evidence to suggest it is reducing costs. One of the matters I have raised personally with the Minister and in the education committee is the need to look at the effectiveness of that voluntary code of practice. If it is not working, it should be put on a statutory basis. It must be made an enforceable code of practice.

With regard to school book rental schemes, I acknowledge that the Government finally has a policy that a school books rental scheme should be available in every school. On the subject of school books, one of the recommendations from the committee related to the use of workbooks. The use of workbooks should not be outlawed but it certainly should be reduced. They are a significant school book cost.

School uniforms are the third issue mentioned by the Minister. I do not accept that the Minister does not have the power under the Education Act 1998 to make recommendations which are binding on school boards of management in respect of the policy on school uniforms. The Minister used that Act previously for recommendations and regulations on mental health and bullying. The Minister has the power to make such recommendations. Previous Ministers have made recommendations on the issue of school uniforms.

The Minister has expressed the opinion that generic uniforms should become available. This is possible, but it will take political will on the part of the Minister to achieve. She must use her statutory powers to compel boards of management to act rather than making the wishy-washy statement that she wants parents to put pressure on boards of management. Parents are under enough pressure. As Minister she has responsibilities and powers, and she must use them.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On the code of conduct on schoolbooks, I will examine whether the code is being implemented and, if not, I will decide whether it needs to be reviewed. I understand, however, that schools are adhering to it. Deputy O'Brien also referred to the possibility of placing the code of conduct on a statutory footing. I will first ascertain whether schools are adhering to it.

The Deputy and I probably agree that the book rental schemes are good.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The issue is workbooks.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Different schools have adopted different practices. In some schools, workbooks come under the rental scheme. While I am aware that these books cannot be reused, anecdotally, I understand that in some cases parents who rent the book that accompanies the workbook also receive a copy of the workbook. I admit this may not be the case in all schools.

With regard to my powers under the Act, my advice is that I do not have the power to require schools to have generic uniforms. For this reason, I am primarily concerned with using my power of persuasion. Parents' wishes also need to be taken into account, because parents dress their children and pay for their clothes. As the Deputy will be aware, some schools, primarily Educate Together schools, do not have school uniforms. As to whether one uses powers to require a school to have a uniform or not, I do not intend to change the current position under which schools are given a choice about having a uniform. In terms of uniform type, I am not sure whether a Minister can order schools to have a certain type of uniform.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister can certainly order schools to introduce a generic uniform.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am not sure that is the case. The advice I have received is that I cannot do so, but I will certainly examine the issue.

Generally speaking, we have made some progress, particularly in book rental schemes. It is good to have an opportunity to emphasise that the voluntary contribution is voluntary. The Department should be informed if schools are telling parents that the contribution is not voluntary and must be paid. There is an issue with the running costs of schools and I will certainly keep that matter under review, particularly in the context of the Estimates.