Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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948. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a difference between school enrolment and school registration fees; the fees if any that a school may request; the guidance that has been issued to schools on this issue; the steps that can be taken in cases in which fees have been inappropriately requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29176/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Education (Admission to Schools) Act, 2018, specifically prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for an application for admission to a school or for the enrolment or continued enrolment of a student in a school. This applies to all recognised primary and post primary schools with exceptions only for fee charging secondary schools, boarding schools and schools that provide post leaving courses or courses in further education in respect of these courses.

The Department published guidance and template admission policies to assist schools with implementing new admission policies for the 2020/21 school year onwards. The guidance includes specific references to the requirement under the act prohibiting the charging of fees. The draft admission policy can be found at the following Link.

However, when a child is enrolled in school certain charges may be legitimately requested, for example, payment for school books, lockers, text messages or photocopied material provided by the school.

Should the Deputy have relevant details of a school and parents involved where payment has been incorrectly requested, my Department will follow up with the school concerned.