History lesson: cash and cheques are things of the past Quinn considers online school fees payment system

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn's department is considering hiring a private company to set up an online payment system for school fees.

It would allow parents to pay for school trips, book rental schemes, uniforms and voluntary contributions electronically rather than giving their child money to bring to school.

Currently, 94 per cent of parents of primary school children and 87 per cent of parents of secondary school students make such payments by cash ...