Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion regarding cutting back-to-school costs. I commend my colleague Deputy Ó Laoghaire on his work in bringing it forward. Families across the State, and I have spoken with many in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, find back-to-school costs a huge burden every year. However, this year it is more severe, with a cost-of-living crisis and continually spiralling fuel and food costs, as well as high rents and childcare costs to contend with. Letters about the purchase of books and uniforms, as well as voluntary contributions, have started to arrive through doors already.

I welcome the initiatives the Government has already announced, including an increase in the back-to-school allowance, but I agree with my colleagues that the scheme must be extended to squeezed middle-income families, targeting those on a household income of €80,000 or less. This measure would ensure an additional 500,000 children would qualify for this support and would greatly ease the enormous pressure on their parents. This is the squeezed middle, who do not qualify for anything. They are just above the threshold for the medical card, housing supports and the back-to-school allowance. This year, they really need a break.

Something must also be done about the cost of schoolbooks. Sinn Féin in government would work towards an entirely free schoolbook scheme for children. While some schools have book rental arrangements in place, which reduce costs considerably, we need to go further and ensure children have access to free schoolbooks. As a former teacher, I also believe something needs to be done about schoolbook publishers excessively revising their textbooks, forcing families to purchase books every few years. This is entirely unnecessary.

On school transport, I welcome the fact that fees have been dismissed for this year but we should go further. We need to eliminate fees in the school transport system on a phased basis and provide seats for an additional 10,000 children. Other countries offer free school transport. Why can we not do it?

Sinn Féin in government would also enact Sinn Féin’s Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2022 straight away, alongside our Bill to abolish voluntary contributions, which can put families under pressure to fork out hundreds of euro every year. Schools must be properly resourced so they are not relying on these voluntary contributions. I once again commend my colleague Deputy Ó Laoghaire on this motion and reiterate that families are suffering here and now. They need assistance immediately.

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