Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department plans to fully restore the capitation grant to primary schools and add the minor works grant to the schedule of grants in view of circular 0032/2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22295/17]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to circular 0032/2017 (details supplied) if he will clarify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22296/17]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department can cover the costs of all textbooks in view of the fact work books are required particularly at infant level in the context of reducing the use of work books in certain circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22297/17]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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124. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that generic uniforms may be produced in countries in which child labour is used and the effect this may have on local businesses here that may have supplied uniforms in the past and that helped local schools in fund-raising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22298/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 121 to 124, inclusive, together.

My ambition is to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe within a decade.

To deliver on my ambition to be the best we have to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students, particularly in relation to costs.

I want to give parents a strong voice in ensuring costs are always kept to a minimum.

While I appreciate the genuine concerns raised by you and the important role played by local clothing retailers in supplying school uniforms to local schools in their region, I believe that we have to put a greater emphasis on reducing the cost of school uniforms and other costs.

Schools have to do everything possible to keep costs down for parents, including the use of generic items, sew on or iron on crests, and making sure that various elements of the uniform can be purchased in multiple stores.

In the Action Plan for Education I have committed to the restoration of capitation payments. In restoring capitation payments, where schools have introduced these cost effective principles, they will receive a premium capitation payment.

I believe that full transparency in relation to the use of any voluntary contributions is important information for parents to have. The Parent and Student Charter will require every school to set out a financial statement, which will include information on how any voluntary contributions are used.

This is part of a suite of measures I am introducing, including the School Admissions Bill which will reform information and procedures around the process of school enrolment, and the commencement of Fitness to Teach, which allow a complaint to be made about a registered teacher to the Teaching to Council for the first time.

Circular letter 32/2017 ‘Measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs’ was published at the end of April and is available on my Departments website.

Following the implementation of the circular, school authorities will be required to adopt the following principles of cost-effective practice which will put a greater emphasis on reducing the cost of school uniforms and other costs:

- All elements of a school uniform should be purchasable from various stores;

- Only iron on or sew on crests should be used;

- Wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment etc.);

- Provide parents with a list of all required items and indicate the likely costs of these required items at best value stores;

- Provide a book rental scheme;

- Phase out, between now and September 2018, the use of workbooks which cannot be reused;

- Where an exclusive supply arrangement applies, it should be tendered for regularly and

- The Board of Management in each school will have to review the cost of items which they require parents to purchase and to make this information available to the school community.

Schools will consult with parents on their views and ask for suggestions on cost reduction initiatives. Parents will be asked for their views about school uniform costs, and other costs, through a questionnaire.

The Circular advises that all elements of a school uniform should be purchasable from various stores. The Circular also advises that schools should consult with parents on their views and suggestions on cost reduction initiatives. It is to be expected that in some schools there will be a divergence of opinions on what type of school uniform students should wear. To ensure that the views of all parents are catered for, the Circular is requesting that schools provide parents with the option to purchase all elements of a school uniform from various stores.

Each of the main education partners where consulted during the preparation of this Circular. As part of their submission, the National Parents Council – Primary included the findings of a survey they had conducted in 2016 with almost 5,000 parents. The survey found that 81% of parents at primary level preferred a uniform that could be purchased in many shops rather than a uniform that is only available from a limited number of shops.

Looking at back to school costs, the Barnardos Schools Costs Survey for 2016 found that the average back to schools costs for a primary student in 4^thclass was €395, and the equivalent figure for a 1^styear post-primary student was €775. These figures include the cost of clothing, footwear, school books, classroom resources and voluntary contributions.

A 2016 survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions which looked at back to school costs found that:

- 81% of parents of school going children feel that the costs of sending their kids back to school is a significant financial burden and

- 31% of parents tend to get themselves into debt to cover this cost.

In relation to workbooks, the Circular advises that schools should phase out, between now and September 2018, the use of workbooks which cannot be reused. The Circular does not ban the use of workbooks.

My Department is very aware of the appropriate contribution that well-designed learning activities can make in the classroom. Resources that align well with the learning objectives of the curriculum (including workbook tasks) and which foster development of key skills and concepts are an important support for classroom learning and teaching and can help to consolidate students’ understanding.

Used skilfully, such activities can provide the teacher with valuable opportunities to promote independent learning; and for learners they can facilitate completion of differentiated activities or tasks at a number of levels. When these kinds of activities are integrated well into classroom teaching and learning, they can provide rich learning opportunities especially when combined with focussed classroom talk and discussion. By contrast, the negative uses of workbooks have also been highlighted in inspection reports, and appropriate recommendations made, in that regard, to schools and teachers.

My Department is committed to working with the Irish Educational Publisher’s Association to ensure that progress can be made on developing workbooks that can be reused.

The Circular provides a period, between now and September 2018, for the phasing out of workbooks which cannot be reused.

My Department supports for the provision of school books are dealt with through the school book rental scheme.  My Department provides funding of €16m annually to schools to support the operation of school book rental schemes for students in all recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools within the Free Education Scheme. The arrangements in relation to this scheme are set out in Circular 0046/2013 which is published on my Department's website at: .

In relation to capitation, the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation as resources permit.

Budget 2017 represents the start of a major programme of reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade.

In relation to capitation funding this commitment remains a priority for me to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan. 

Primary schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary grant as a combined grant.  The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016 and €5 in 2017 in order to enable primary schools implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.  A similar type approach in relation to improvements in grant funding was applied, as appropriate, at post-primary level.  

Subject to the availability of funding, the Minor Works Grant is issued from the School Building Unit of my Department to all primary schools for use on the physical infrastructure of schools or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use including IT related equipment. The schedule of grants captures all grants issued by Central Funds Unit and does not include the infrastructure-related grants issued by the Schools Building Unit.

In addition, I also wish to bring to the attention of the Deputy my announcement last week in relation to a further major investment in the summer works scheme (2016-2017).  This investment will see the allocation of €47million for vital school projects which aim to upgrade mechanical, sanitation and roofs in school buildings.  329 of the schools which will benefit from this round of funding are primary schools, while 109 are post primary schools.  The Planning and Building Unit in my Department will be in contact shortly with all schools approved for grant aid under this year's Summer Works Scheme with further details and instructions on how to proceed.

The Action Plan for Education, which aims to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe within a decade, puts a big priority on investment in school educational infrastructure.  This announcement confirms the Government’s continuing prioritisation of capital funding for school buildings which will enhance the learning and working environment for pupils and teachers. In 2017, my Department will invest almost half a billion euro in school infrastructure.