Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent Irish League of Credit Unions report showing that back-to-school costs have risen every year since 2012, with almost a third of parents getting into debt to cover the increasing expenses and some 13% of families cutting back on food spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23034/16]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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I ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent Irish League of Credit Unions report showing that back to school costs have risen every year since 2012. The report says that back to school costs negatively impact 26% of household bill payments with 13% of parents saying they will have to sacrifice spending on food to cover these costs. It also says that only 14% of parents who are eligible for back to school allowance believe it is sufficient to cover school costs. On average, parents of primary school students spend €145 on uniforms per child and parents of secondary school students spend €234 per child. I ask the Minister for a statement.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Collins for raising this issue. I have read the report and I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents, including measures such as the use of generic type uniforms or the use of sew-on crests. All schools must be sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decisions, not just about school uniforms or books, but about any matter that has cost implications for parents. The action plan for education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the three-year period. Some of the actions as part of that plan are to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents by restoring capitation funding over a three-year period as resources permit; increasing the financial support for book rental schemes in order to reduce or eliminate school book costs for parents; and by issuing a strong new circular to school authorities and ETBs regarding school uniform policy and other costs and the need to put a greater emphasis on reducing the cost of school uniforms and other costs.

I will also introduce a stronger complaints procedure and a charter for parents. It is important that schools should consult parents on matters relating to their children's education, including those matters which have cost implications. Schools should be responsive to the views and concerns of parents.  In that regard, requiring schools to have a parents' charter will ensure schools will interact better with parent associations and with individual parents.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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Can the Minister indicate how much that would reduce the cost of sending children to school? At the moment, the overall cost for a primary school student is €967 and for a secondary school student is €1,474. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance was reduced from €200 to €100 for four to eleven year olds and from €305 to €200 for 12 to 22 year olds. The cost of uniform clothing for primary school averages at €145 which is well over the €100 allowance. For secondary school children it is €234 and if one includes the average cost of gym gear, which is €57 for primary school children and €97 for secondary school students, it immediately brings the cost above the €200 allowance for primary school children and the €330 allowance for secondary school children. Will the Minister comment on the measure of increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for children? I will come back on another point when the Minister replies.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The clothing allowance is administered by the Department of Social Protection. It is of some reassurance that schools are taking this more seriously. The report shows a consistent fall in the cost of uniforms at schools from €177 in 2011 to €145 in 2016. Similarly, the cost of books has come down from €125 to €94 and voluntary contributions are also coming down. There is evidence that schools are taking their responsibility to control costs more seriously. I am determined that this becomes an issue that includes the continuing drive to reduce obstacles to participation in education. I cannot put a number on it but if capitation increases it will hopefully reduce the reliance on voluntary contributions and so on in other areas. These are issues we will have to develop and address over a period of time.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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According to the Irish League of Credit Unions report, in 2015 voluntary contributions for primary schools were an average of €77. This year they are also an average of €77 so the cost has not gone down. In 2015, the average cost of voluntary contributions in secondary schools was €147 and in 2016 it will be €160. They are not going down.

There is another issue which is not part of the Minister's brief but perhaps he could discuss it with the Minister for Social Protection. School children lose their children's allowance at 16 and parents have to reapply for it when children go back to school and continue their education. Parents have an expectation of getting that children's allowance over a critical three-month period when they are under a lot of pressure buying books and school uniforms. They probably end up borrowing that money and paying interest on it. When they get the money back they can pay it off. There are areas where the Government can intervene much more decisively to support families in this way.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am looking at the longer period because this data goes back to 2011. There is a consistent downward trend. It is not on every item but generally there is a downward trend in the areas directly controlled by schools. We need to build on that. I am sure the Minister for Social Protection will look at the issue of the age at which child benefit is withdrawn. There is an ambition to look at school age so hopefully over time some of the problems the Deputy has referred to can be dealt with. It is a traditional feature of child benefit that it continues to the age of 16 initially, which was the compulsory school age. That is probably what influenced the Department of Social Protection.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputies who tabled questions Nos. 25 and 26 are not present so we will move onto question No. 27 in the name of Deputy Ruth Coppinger.