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08/07/2015
Call For Govt To Help Parents With Back-To-School Costs
The government is being urged to help parents after a survey revealed "unacceptably" high rates of back-to-school costs.
The results of the survey, carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions, have been described as "shocking".
Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan O'Brien the burden is getting too much for parents.
He said: "It is completely unacceptable that parents are getting in to debt to buy school uniforms and books and PE gear, let alone actually cutting back on paying essential bills and buying food.
"Despite the line that is repeated by government members, the Minister for Education does have statutory power to compel schools to adopt particular policies under the Education Act regarding school uniforms or any other issues.
"The Minister has the capacity to make real changes that would positively affect the families struggling to fund their children's basic primary education.
"Empty rhetoric is not good enough, and while some schools are to be commended in the efforts they've made to reduce costs for parents, it is not acceptable to simply depend on the goodwill of Boards of Management who have done nothing in the past to address this issue."
(CD/JP)
The results of the survey, carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions, have been described as "shocking".
Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan O'Brien the burden is getting too much for parents.
He said: "It is completely unacceptable that parents are getting in to debt to buy school uniforms and books and PE gear, let alone actually cutting back on paying essential bills and buying food.
"Despite the line that is repeated by government members, the Minister for Education does have statutory power to compel schools to adopt particular policies under the Education Act regarding school uniforms or any other issues.
"The Minister has the capacity to make real changes that would positively affect the families struggling to fund their children's basic primary education.
"Empty rhetoric is not good enough, and while some schools are to be commended in the efforts they've made to reduce costs for parents, it is not acceptable to simply depend on the goodwill of Boards of Management who have done nothing in the past to address this issue."
(CD/JP)
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Labour Propose Plan To Tackle Back To School Costs
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Parents Hit Out At Steep School Costs
987 parents responding to Barnardos' School Costs Survey 2012 have expressed frustration and anger at the continued high costs of sending children to school, as evidenced by this quote from one parent who completed the survey.
Parents Hit Out At Steep School Costs
987 parents responding to Barnardos' School Costs Survey 2012 have expressed frustration and anger at the continued high costs of sending children to school, as evidenced by this quote from one parent who completed the survey.
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Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
