Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My next question relates to the Barnardos opening statement, which referred to the back to school survey. As public representatives, we all know that every September parents, regardless of income, find the back to school period places huge financial strain on them. The experience is magnified for those already struggling financially. The myth of free education at both primary and second level is crushed when they look to purchase school uniforms, books, bags and footwear, and then there is the annual school trip. Barnardos comes out very strongly on this. What level of intervention does the Department of Education need to start taking coming up to the next school year? Additional funding is being added to the Department's budget yearly but is there something specific we need to tackle in our education system to address these challenges?