Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has set out a tendering process for schools in respect of the supply of school uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4178/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to give parents a strong voice in ensuring that school costs are always kept to a minimum. I have 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 April 2017, I published Circular letter 32/2017 ‘Measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs’.

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

My Department has not set out a specific tendering process for schools in respect of the supply of school uniforms. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management (BOM) is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and decisions on school uniform policy are a matter for the school, in consultation with parents, at local level.