asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that some second level schools are insisting on financial contributions of as much as £50 from parents, with an implication that failure to pay will mean automatic expulsion; the measures the Government intend to take to end this form of pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I would like to state that it is a fundamental principle of the free post-primary eduction scheme that no charge be made in respect of:

1. Instruction in any subject listed in the general school programme,

2. Recreational or study facilities of which all the pupils are expected to avail themselves as part of the school programme,

3. Any other activity in which all pupils are required to take part.

Voluntary contributions by parents towards the elimination of old building debts, or charges for optional extras over and above those provided in the general school programme would be permissible under the free education scheme provided it were made absolutely clear to parents that there was no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they would be so doing of their own volition.

Any complaints received concerning the undue levying of charges on parents of pupils in secondary schools are investigated by my Department. I am not aware of any dissatisfaction in this connection in respect of pupils attending vocational, community and comprehensive schools.

May I take it from the Minister's reply that he is aware of dissatisfaction by parents of pupils attending some secondary schools? He must have received complaints, certainly in the last week, about a particular school in Glasnevin. Has the Minister investigated those complaints? What steps has he taken in relation to the circular issued by that school which made no reference at all to the fact that contributions were voluntary and implied that if a parent did not pay the £50 requested it would be assumed they were placing their child in some other school?

I am aware of the complaint to which the Deputy refers. The Department are investigating this matter with a view to further clarification by the principal involved relating to the exact nature of what the Deputy referred to in the letter to the parents.

It is fine for the Minister to say he is looking for clarification from the principal as to what was meant by what was in the circular. But the parents who contacted me were very clear about what was meant. The circular said quite clearly that the classes may have to be reduced as a result of the new ruling. It did not say where that ruling had been made. It said that if parents wished their daughter to continue her education with them they should complete the attached form and return it with their annual subscription of £50. There is no reference at all to the fact that it is a voluntary subscription. It goes on to say that if the form and subscription were not received by Wednesday, 4 June it would be taken that the parents were transferring their daughter elsewhere. That is a clear indication that the parents were expected to pay that £50 and, if they did not, they could do what they liked with their child. Will the Minister undertake to see that that school and, indeed, all schools that may be tempted to issue similar circulars, will be instructed that they are not entitled to insist on such subscriptions and that any requests for subscriptions must clearly indicate that they are voluntary.

While the question does not refer to a specific school, I understand what the Deputy is speaking about. The regulations for the free post-primary education scheme are crystal clear. The Department will be in immediate contact with the school concerned for clarification with regard to this matter.

Has the Minister seen a copy of the circular in question?

Yes. I have.

Do the contents of the circular breach the regulations about free education?

Words can always be interpreted in many ways, as the Deputy knows. I have asked my Department to have that matter clarified specifically with regard to the regulations for the free post-primary education scheme.

There is a further aspect of it. Will the Minister undertake to ensure that, when they are issuing circulars of this kind, all secondary schools in the scheme will, make it clear that subscriptions of any kind being requested are voluntary in nature? Will the Minister also indicate whether or not he intends to increase the grants to schools so that they do not have to look for these subscriptions?

The regulations are clear. No complaints are received from vocational, comprehensive and community schools. Any complaints that are received are investigated.

Is the Minister of State aware of how high an incidence there is of this practice? Will he accept that it reflects, to a great extent, cutbacks in the area of educational provision?

The Department have no record of ever having received a complaint from a parent concerning the charging of fees by vocational schools. Community and comprehensive schools do have a record of two complaints received in the past three years. Both of these have been investigated and the amount in question was £5. With regard to secondary schools, any queries that arise are investigated.

How many complaints have been received in the past year?

I do not have that information but I can forward it to the Deputy if he wishes.

I have a further supplementary.

I have been reasonable and generous and I allowed Deputy De Rossa to ask a very omnibus type of question that really consisted of about ten questions.

The Minister indicated that he had a number of complaints in relation to the vocational schools and comprehensive schools. Does he have figures in regard to complaints from secondary schools?

We have had very few. There have been none in respect of vocational schools and only two in respect of community and comprehensive schools.

How many complaints have there been in relation to voluntary secondary schools?

I will supply that information if it is available. But every complaint is investigated thoroughly by the Department to see that school authorities comply with the regulations and that charges are not imposed in circumstances outside the specific regulations issued by the Department on 11 May 1967.