Written answer
School Curriculum
Mandatory curriculum activities cannot be outsourced for compulsory parental payment; optional charges and voluntary contributions must be transparent, with further safeguards proposed in legislation.
280. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department permits State-funded primary schools to outsource mandatory school-day curriculum delivery to private contractors at direct cost to parents; and the mechanisms her Department is putting in place to enforce existing regulations against coercive fee invoicing for school-day activities. [66644/26]
Comment on this
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.
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.
No charge may be made, in respect of instruction in any subject of the school curriculum or for recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to take part. However, certain charges may be legitimately requested such as payments in respect of extra-curricular activities, provided such activities are not obligatory and individual pupils can choose whether or not to participate. The charge must reflect the true cost involved.
Requests for voluntary contributions by parents of pupils 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 Department is also continuing to progress the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The overall aim of the Bill is to improve the level of engagement between the school community by inviting feedback, comment and observation from students and parents and by further developing a listening culture in schools.
One of the key concepts of the Bill is the need for a school to consult with the school community on individual school plans, policies and activities. This approach will help ensure that the various views of staff, students and parents will be heard and responded to by schools on policies and issues . The Bill also provides for schools to make available financial information to students and parents, including information regarding voluntary contributions and how they are spent.