Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Can the Minister indicate how much that would reduce the cost of sending children to school? At the moment, the overall cost for a primary school student is €967 and for a secondary school student is €1,474. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance was reduced from €200 to €100 for four to eleven year olds and from €305 to €200 for 12 to 22 year olds. The cost of uniform clothing for primary school averages at €145 which is well over the €100 allowance. For secondary school children it is €234 and if one includes the average cost of gym gear, which is €57 for primary school children and €97 for secondary school students, it immediately brings the cost above the €200 allowance for primary school children and the €330 allowance for secondary school children. Will the Minister comment on the measure of increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for children? I will come back on another point when the Minister replies.

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