1188. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and proportion of primary and post-primary schools seeking voluntary contributions from parents in the 2025/26 school year, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60846/26]

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

The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for individual school management. However, schools are required to ensure that voluntary contributions are not presented in a way that could lead parents or pupils to believe that they are compulsory.

1,576 (1,312 Primary and 264 Post-Primary) schools recorded receipt of voluntary contributions in their 24/25 accounts. The annual financial return deadline for schools providing their 25/26 accounts to the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) is February 28, 2027, and as such the number of schools for 25/26 is currently unavailable. The information is set out at the link below for previous years.

2024-2025 Voluntary Contributions