Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

We all support the Minister on this issue. He stated earlier this year that he intended to meet publishers in a bid to have them implement more ethical practices in the area of school book costs. The cost of uniforms is a linked issue. When will the cost of sending a child to school be reduced? As this is September, school books and uniforms have been bought for the school year. People had hoped steps would be taken to address the cost of school books and uniforms prior to the school year commencing. While that may have been an unreasonable expectation, it was widespread. What progress has been made on introducing a nationwide book lending scheme and reducing the cost of school uniforms? What is the timescale for implementing such a scheme? Will it be in place next year? The costs of some books and uniforms are crazy. Parents who have to fork out €50 for a child's jumper tell me they have never spent €50 on a jumper for themselves. Some of them have to spend buy uniforms for two or three kids.

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