Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I do not know if the Tánaiste realises how difficult it is for low-income families. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is really concerned about the summer holidays because it does not know what is going to happen to those families that are utterly dependent on breakfast clubs and school meals. Where is the food going to come from during the summer holidays? What will happen when parents just cannot afford food, school uniforms, shoes for going back-to-school or books? The Tánaiste talks about looking at this again. An enormous catch up is required in order to bring the back-to-school allowance anywhere close to what is required. How will parents cope when they get a request for a so-called voluntary contribution because the State refuses to adequately fund all our schools? We need answers to these questions now. Poor families need answers now. They cannot wait three months.

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