Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire and Sinn Féin for bringing forward this very timely and important motion. This reflects the real concerns of many families, certainly those who are in contact with me and from what I hear from my colleagues in the House in this debate.

Throughout the country right now, many families are worrying about back-to-school costs and have been for many months. Families are trying to set a few bob aside week by week to buy books, or it might be a pair of trainers for PE, a new uniform jumper or a school tracksuit. There is a very long list of back-to-school requirements. Parents are counting how many weeks it is until the end of August so they can have enough money set aside in order that their child can go back to school, the same as all the other children. It is a major worry for families and they are under real pressure. None of us want to disappoint our children. It is vital that children are not seen as different from their friends and classmates and that they do not stand out because they do not have the school tracksuit or are outgrowing their uniform. It might seem like a little thing to some of us but for children to be able to blend in and have what others have is so important. Parents know this and they will do whatever they can to ensure their children have what they need to start the school year. Moneylenders know parents will pay the sky-high interest rates in order that their daughters and sons can hold their heads high, wear the same uniform and carry the same books and equipment.

Following its survey last year, the Irish League of Credit Unions showed that one quarter of parents are getting into debt. Approximately 21% of them have an average debt of €500 just to send their children back to school. It estimated that the cost of sending a child to primary school is just over €1,100, and it is €1,500 for secondary school. That is a very significant sum of money for any family per child but it is a huge sum for a family on low, fixed or middle incomes.

I listened to the Minister and heard the announcements that were made earlier today. She spoke about the €67 million, which is valuable, important and most welcome. Many parents, especially those who were worrying about paying for school transport, will be greatly relieved they will not have to pay and those who have paid will be anxiously awaiting their rebate. The increase in the back-to-school allowance is substantial. Mind you, it needs to be because, of course, it is less now than it was back in 2007.

One of the issues I have, however, is the income qualifying limits for families to qualify for this allowance. For a family with three children, the income level is under €38,000. Let us say one parent works 40 hours per week on the minimum wage of €12.50 per hour and the other parent is on disability allowance. That family with three children will be well above the qualifying limit. The Minister needs to look at that. The Sinn Féin proposal to include more than 500,000 extra families in qualifying for the back-to-school allowance is something the Minister should definitely look at and take seriously when it comes to the budget. As I said, I welcome that increase. The Minister also said she increased funding for a free book rental scheme. That is good but we need a commitment from the Minister and the Government that in the lifetime of this Government, all schoolbooks will be free. If the Minister could give us that commitment, people could believe Fianna Fáil is as invested in education as she tells us it is.

I mention the issue of voluntary contributions, If ever there was a misnomer, it is calling those contributions voluntary. In theory they are, but in practice they are not. Parents are expected to pay. They are under real pressure to cover the costs the capitation grant does not. We all know the cost of fuel, heating and lighting has escalated in recent months. What will schools do in September, October, November, December, January, February and right up to April next year as they try to keep the lights on and heat their school buildings? That means greater pressure on this so-called voluntary contribution. We will not hear it today but I ask that, in the budget, there will perhaps be an increase in the capitation grants. The rise in inflation this year and last year was 9%. Therefore, even if the Minister increased it by 10%, that would just be standing still. I ask the Minister to consider that in the budget.

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