Parents will have to be told by schools about the amount of money generated from voluntary financial contributions they are asked to make and how it is being spent under rules to be introduced by the Government. <\/p>\n
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton<\/a> is to put forward plans for a new statutory charter to strengthen accountability in schools.<\/p>\n In 2023, charities said that some parents were being asked for payments of up to \u20ac350 or more in voluntary contributions. The Government has previously insisted it must be made clear to parents that such payments are not compulsory.<\/p>\n However, schools say they are forced to seek money from parents because they do not receive sufficient State funding to meet everyday expenses.<\/p>\n As part of new education legislation to be considered by the Cabinet, schools will be required to provide information to parents and students regarding money they receive.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Third of parents expected to go into debt to fund back-to-school costsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n A Government source indicated this would include funding generated from parents\u2019 voluntary contributions.<\/p>\n It is understood the Minister will bring proposals to Cabinet in relation to the new Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill on Tuesday next week.<\/p>\n Last November then minister for education Helen McEntee<\/a> said in the D\u00e1il that parents must not believe they were being forced to make voluntary contributions.<\/p>\n She said the existing Education (Admissions to schools) Act, which was introduced in 2018, explicitly prohibited the charging of fees for admission or for continued enrolment in a school.<\/p>\n \u201cThe manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management. Their collection, however, must not create a situation where parents or pupils could infer the contributions are compulsory in nature. While schools may request a voluntary contribution from parents, it must be made expressly clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay this cost,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cVoluntary 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.\u201d<\/p>\n