Schools will need to ask parents to make more voluntary contributions, not less, in order to make up for a shortfall caused by a decrease in government capitation fees.

FAMILIES of pupils in small schools could end up struggling to spend hundreds of euro in certain supermarkets to collect tokens for just one football or other sports equipment, it was claimed yesterday.

FAST-FOOD chains, chocolate manufacturers, supermarkets and other firms are marketing their products in primary schools in the absence of clear policies from Government or at local level.