Time to tackle Back to School costs for families - Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has today
launched proposals that would see free hot meals for all children in DEIS
primary schools, and free school books for all children rolled out over a
five-year government term.
Teachta Ó Laoghaire said:
“Ireland’s education system is being heavily subsidised by families. Every
summer, I speak to families who are being crippled by the growing costs of
sending their kids back to school.
“Families are put to the pin of their collar year on year, to meet the costs of
books, uniforms, voluntary contributions, transport - the list goes on.
“Parents make every effort to cover these costs, many getting themselves into
debt as a result, and often at the expense of their own personal needs.
“Successive governments have slashed capitation funding for schools, leaving
parents to make up the shortfall through huge voluntary contributions.
“It is alarming that, due to Government inaction, parents are having to
fundraise to keep the lights and the heating on in their children’s schools.
“It shouldn’t have to be this way. It is high time we tackle the high costs of
education on families.
“Our plans launched today will increase per-pupil funding across schools, to
bring about an end to the reliance on voluntary contributions and parental
fundraising.
“Our plans would provide fully free school books for all children, through
increases in funding over a number of budgets. We would significantly enhance
the School Meals Programme, ensuring that all children in DEIS primary schools
receive a hot meal during the school day.
“The piecemeal supports provided by successive governments have done little to
ease the huge financial burden on parents every year.
“With the proposals we have set out in our policy document, ‘Let’s Tackle Back
to School Costs’, we can give parents a break, and ensure that equal
educational outcomes can be secured for all children, regardless of their
family’s income."
Let’s Tackle Back to School Costs policy document can be found here