I wish to ask about voluntary contributions in schools. A report published by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul today found that, of the 1,500 respondents to its survey, more than 90% said that they were going without because they would have to cover the voluntary contribution, which is only rarely voluntary. Some 671,000 people are at risk of poverty and one would imagine that many of the survey's respondents were already cutting their cloth very finely, perhaps even to the bone.

During austerity, the capitation grant, which covers the basis running costs of schools per pupil, was cut from €345 to €309. Will the Government prioritise an increase in the capitation grant and the introduction of free schoolbooks at second level and will it introduce a regulation to monitor and remove voluntary contributions from our schools? Very few schools acknowledge the fact that these are voluntary contributions. There is nothing voluntary in a parent being told that, if he or she is experiencing difficulties, he or she should go in and speak to the school.

To be very clear, section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission or for continued enrolment in a school. Whatever may be said to parents, they do not have to pay them, and they are voluntary contributions, but I appreciate that many parents do not feel that way and feel under pressure to pay them.

We have increased the capitation grant by 7.5%. I have no doubt the Minister, Deputy Foley, will seek a further increase for next year, but that this of course a matter for the budget. We are bringing in free school books in primary schools from September. I hope that will help parents with the cost of going to school, as well as an increase in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance paid at the higher rate again this summer.