Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a survey carried out by the Irish Primary Principals Network which found that most parents are worse off financially now compared with last year and that half of schools had requested voluntary contributions from parents of more than €100; and her plans to actively address the issue of both primary and secondary schools requesting excessive amounts from parents. [45121/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am aware of the survey in question and would firstly like to clarify that it found that about half of the 502 schools surveyed request voluntary contributions from parents and that, of those schools which request contributions, about 76% request less than €100 per family. Further the survey found that on average about two thirds of parents pay a voluntary contribution.

The Deputy will be aware that voluntary contributions by parents 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 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.

I have no plans to alter this position provided schools ensure that the contributions are sought in manner that makes this clear to all concerned.