1564. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has estimated the aggregate amount raised annually by recognised primary and post-primary schools through voluntary contributions from parents; if so, to provide the estimate for each of the past five years; whether she will commission such an analysis if this information is not currently collected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64028/26]

Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.

Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils enrolled in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.

Section 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018, which was commenced in 2018 explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school, with some exceptions such as boarding or fee charging schools.

The Department's position is that voluntary contributions must remain voluntary in nature and that no pupil should be disadvantaged, either directly or indirectly, where a parent chooses not to make such a contribution.

Schools have recorded receipt of voluntary contributions for the following years:

The annual financial return deadline for schools providing their 25/26 accounts to the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) is 28 February 2027, and as such the number of schools for 25/26 is currently unavailable.