Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department issues guidelines on the imposition of voluntary contribution charges; and if it will be possible to encourage or mandate to provide a minimum time notice such as nine months in advance of changes to such contributions. [40027/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Apart from the recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised schools are not permitted to charge school fees.

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 timing and 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.