Dáil debates
Thursday, 30 November 2023
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
School Enrolments
11:40 am
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures her Department has in place to end the practice of non-fee-paying schools linking the payment of a fee with the acceptance of an enrolment place. [52250/23]
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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This is related to the reputed practice of a particular school that came to my notice of linking the payment of a fee with the enrolment of a child. I want the Minister to comment on that practice and set out the Department policy in respect of it.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, is important legislation which has introduced a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. The legislation is part of a suite of measures taken to take greater account of the needs of parents and students in the school system.
All school admissions policies must be approved by the patron following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion regarding their admission criteria and how they are applied. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. Section 64 of the Act prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for an application for admission to, or for continued enrolment, in a school. Exceptions are included in relation to fee charging post-primary schools, the boarding element in boarding schools and admission to post leaving certificate or further education courses run by post-primary schools.
I am aware that my Department has received correspondence from the Deputy recently relating to a particular school that was requesting a fee to be paid upon acceptance of a place of the school. My Department contacted the school on Monday, 20 November. The school recognises that it made an error in requesting a fee from parents upon acceptance of a place in the school. The school has stated that it does not charge an admission fee, and that this fee was never intended to be a fee for enrolment. The school has never refused admission to any student based on the fact that they can or cannot afford to pay.
Further to this it stated that at no time has an offer of a place been withdrawn based on non-payment of a fee. The principal of the school concerned has confirmed that he will contact all parents that have paid this fee to arrange a refund. This process will commence this week.
I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this to our attention. I am satisfied that this practice has now ceased in the school he referenced.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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I have no intention of naming the school. The school management has told the Minister that they made a mistake. We need to have robust communication from the Minister. I appreciate the effort she made in contacting the school. The parents from that school will be very appreciative of those efforts. It is quite outrageous that a school would say a mistake was made in making the connection between the payment of fee and the enrolment of a child. No parent involved in that scenario is ever going to put their hand up and say that they think this practice is wrong. The parent would be more worried about getting their child into the school than anything else. The fallback parents should have of calling out this kind of behaviour does not really exist because there are so concerned about securing school places for their children.
Are there any ramifications for that particular school in stepping outside the law or do we just have to accept that a mistake was made? What kind of communication can the Minister give to every second level school in particular, around the country to ensure that do not must make this mistake again.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that the Deputy has highlighted a very important issue. We need to reiterate that no parent can be charged for enrolment to a school or for tuition in any subject. Section 64 of the Act makes that explicitly clear.
This school has said it never intended for any link to be made between enrolment and the paying of a fee. The school has categorically confirmed that it does not charge an admission fee and that the fee was never intended to be a fee for enrolment. The school has said, and it has been confirmed, that it has never refused admission to any student based on the fact the student cannot afford to pay. In this instance, as I said, immediate contact was made with the school and immediate clarity was sought. The school in question has confirmed that it will contact all parents in this regard, should there have been any misunderstanding anywhere along the line.
I want to be explicit that it is not and never will be acceptable to charge any fee either for enrolment or tuition of any subject on the curriculum.
11:50 am
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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Okay, so the Department is willing to accept that the school made a mistake. However, can the Minister reiterate to every school across the country the reality that they cannot link a payment to enrolment? Will the Minister also accept there is a toxic relationship between money and education in this country? There is far too much of an assumption within school management sometimes that a voluntary contribution is linked to full engagement in school life, and they may suggest that it is voluntary but it is not. We have to move to a situation where children can attend school in the non-fee-paying sector, my own views on that sector aside, and parents will not be asked to put their hands in their pockets. If there is a request for a voluntary contribution or a fee in regard to enrolment, the potential for humiliation of that parent is huge and the ability of that parent to complain about it is minimised because they are so worried about their child having full participation in school life. We need a robust statement from the Department in regard to these matters.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I reiterate that I am very pleased the Deputy has raised this issue. It is important to state, for the record, that section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 makes clear that no fee can be charged for enrolment or instruction in any subject, recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to participate. That is very clear. In this instance, the school has put its hand up following the issue raised by the Deputy and contact from the Department. It has given a commitment that it will contact all parents in regard to the issue. I have no problem whatsoever in reiterating and making it very clear that this is not acceptable practice. This is very clearly provided for in the education Act. It is not now or going forward appropriate for any fee to be charged for enrolment or tuition in any education subject on the curriculum.