I have a question regarding the forthcoming Retention of Certain Records Bill 2015 and the plans by the Department of Education for an ongoing development of an online database for primary schools. As the Tánaiste is aware, the database will require the collection of a lot of information about pupils, including information on their special needs, psychological reports, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Reference is also made to the fact that this information may be used for the purposes of allocating teachers and finances to schools. If parents refuse to provide certain information for this database, will the Department of Education reduce the number of teachers being allocated to a school or indeed funding to a school? Can the Tánaiste please clarify that?

The information on the characteristics, general needs and numbers of the pupils is being collected in order to allow for good long-term planning for the schools. It does not have any implications for resource allocation to schools other than the total number of children in a school and the features and attributes of those children. These aspects are taken into account at present for existing allocations.

It does not propose any change in that regard. It is simply providing a more up-to-date information technology-based system for schools that will allow better and faster collection of data, subject, of course, to data privacy and protection controls, as set down by the Data Protection Commissioner.