Parents are to be balloted on what type of school uniforms their children wear. The Education Minister says a questionnaire will be sent out to parents in the coming weeks where schools have a uniform policy.

They will be asked to vote on issues including the use of uniforms, the type of clothing used, the colour and school crests.

It is thought that parents will be asked to vote on a series of options such as:

• Do they want a school uniform or not?
• If they opt for a uniform do they want trousers, jumpers, blouses, shirts and skirts in colours/shades available in the large retail chains?
• Do they want a school blazer, a school crest on garments and what type?

The Department of Education says it will issue the template questionnaire to schools by the end of this month, with schools expected to complete the ballots by the end of February.

It says this will give Boards of Management "adequate time to consider the parents' wishes and to determine the schools uniform policy for the next school year".

The questionnaire will be used to see the type of uniform - if any - that parents want for the 2014/15 school year.

Ruairi Quinn says the move will help to tackle the cost of uniforms by strengthening the role of parents in the decision-making.