Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding for secondary schools (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53475/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The charging of fees by a school is permissible only in the case of recognised fee-charging second level schools.

All other recognised schools are precluded from charging school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in such recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary 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.