Ms June Tinsley:

I thank members for an interesting discussion. I am happy to pick up on a number of points.

In connection with Senator Ruane's comments on the shaming of children, we in Barnardos have definitely come across such instances. Our experience has been that some schools have been progressive in trying to manage the costs - for example, by holding second-hand uniform sales, switching to generic brands and so on - while other schools have not. Likewise, this variation applies to the implementation of the circular; again, it is patchy. The Department said only recently that it truthfully was not monitoring the implementation of the circular, it had not awarded any schools the increased capitation and it was hoping to resolve the question even more through the forthcoming charter. However, these are all cost-neutral issues and, from Barnardos's point of view, as I keep saying, we believe that everything a child needs to complete the curriculum should be provided by the State. Uniform policy can be set at school level, and alternative, cheaper options should be adopted across the board. Parents like uniforms. They are handy for them, they ensure some school identity and so on. However, not every item needs to be crested, and there are alternatives.

Our schoolbook figures have been verified by the Department of Education and Skills and combine the findings not only of our survey, but also of book publishers. It is estimated that €20 million extra would provide free primary textbooks and workbooks to all pupils. An additional €20 million would cover the textbooks for secondary schools. There are models such as the one that works in Northern Ireland, whereby the schools receive a pot of money from the State, and the publishers know how much that pot contains and go into the schools to pitch for their business. It is a question of changing the customer. Here the publishers go into the schools, the schools choose which books best suit their needs and it is the parents who are the purchaser. It is a question of changing the dynamic of that exchange, essentially. Interestingly, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection in its consideration of school costs back in 2013 flagged a blueprint that would allow us to move to a system of genuinely free schoolbooks and less reliance on schoolbook rental schemes because they are so patchy. Where the latter operate comprehensively, they are great for parents, but they are not standardised, the fees vary significantly and some schools roll them out only for certain subjects or certain classes. It is, therefore, not a comprehensive model, and the system should be that schoolbooks are just provided by the State. It is interesting that we found a 1937 general election poster which promised free schoolbooks and we still do not have them. The investment can be made. It would be €20 million and it would genuinely assist in easing pressure on parents and ensuring a level playing field across the system.

I accept members' point about the additional vulnerability of children who are homeless and those in direct provision. They do not receive additional support, particularly children in direct provision. Some may be eligible for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, but I am not 100% sure. Many of them link in directly with the principal and teachers in the schools the children are attending and try to gain additional assistance that way. I know that for children experiencing homelessness, the family resource centres - and sometimes, where they know the children are homeless, the schools themselves - will put in place initiatives to try to ensure that children can avail of homework clubs, for example, because if one lives in a hotel, it is obviously just not feasible to do one's homework, eat and so on in the same room in which one sleeps. It is just not conducive to good educational outcomes. Children experiencing homelessness also often have long commutes to the schools that they are originally from to instil stability in their otherwise chaotic lives. It is certainly an issue, and the recent Children's Rights Alliance, CRA, report on educational outcomes for children experiencing homelessness was clear in this regard about the negative impact it is having on children's lives.