Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Parents are doing their best to prepare their children for the new academic year and with so much pressure on household budgets due to the rising cost of living, by the time the bills are paid, they have little or nothing left to buy food, meaning that they are struggling to pay for schoolbooks and uniforms, as well as requested parent contributions. The bulk of announcements in last year’s education budget shared one key thing - easing the costs facing families and schools in the teeth of a cost-of-living crisis. Considering that Ireland’s free education system is expensive when schoolbooks, uniforms, voluntary contributions and extracurricular activities are factored in, the free schoolbook initiative at primary level was a long-awaited step in the right direction, but it was not enough to compensate for soaring inflation. The increase in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and free school transport helped many families, yet these measures were only temporary and are still a long way off meeting the needs of families struggling with school costs. There is still a journey to go in cutting costs such as voluntary contributions and schoolbooks and-or iPads at second level.

If costs at primary and secondary level are high, they are greater still in higher education. The €3,000 student contribution fee means that third level education in Ireland is the most expensive in the EU, not to mind soaring rents and high fuel costs for commuting students. I welcome that the contribution fee was slashed to €1,000 in the 2022-23 academic year, but this was only a once-off measure. The belief persists that the Department of Education could do more. Despite Government ambitions to create the best education system in Europe and despite the scale of announcements to tackle immediate costs in last year’s budget, the sector remains underfunded compared with those of most of our European neighbours. What a paradoxical, yet familiar tale.

In April, the Taoiseach got Cabinet approval to establish a new child poverty and well-being unit in his Department. This team has six key targets, including reducing the cost of education, slashing the price of childcare and potential welfare reforms to tackle child poverty. This could be a game-changer. By building on existing policies such as free schoolbooks and the expansion of the hot meals programme, we can alleviate the pressures on families on the poverty line.

I feel for the middle-income families who see themselves as qualifying for nothing, but paying for everything. One of my constituents is a working mother who does not meet the criteria for the back-to-school allowance. She has not been given enough hours at work and is struggling to pay her bills and feed her children, never mind trying to cover the cost of back-to-school expenses. This has a huge impact on parents’ mental health and well-being. They feel like failures because they cannot meet the needs of their growing children. We need to end the practice of voluntary contributions. The capitation grant must also be restored to 2010 levels. That would be a first step in ending the practice of voluntary contribution through an adequate funding system. Pre-budget submissions should incorporate a number of ways in which the Government should address school costs and provide genuinely free primary and secondary education to all students, while funding for third level is urgent.

I appreciate that the Minister, Deputy Harris, has visited Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, on many occasions. DkIT is trying to achieve technological university status. It is important that the north east is not left behind. Coming from Dundalk, I can say that we appreciate it. The Minister gave DkIT a special adviser to help it along the way. I appreciate that the Higher Education Authority is supportive. There are 6,000 students and 5,000 staff at DkIT. The big plus in DkIT is that nearly 80% of the students who attend are the first members of their families to do so. Since Deputy Foley got the job as Minister for Education, I must admit she has been very approachable. Every time someone goes to speak to her, she is sympathetic and looks after us.

As someone who came from a council estate, I recall my mother struggling hard to get us to school, get schoolbooks, feed us and everything else. I feel for people nowadays. The cost-of-living situation has hit not only Ireland but every country. The Department is one that a lot of people pick on, but I honestly think everybody should be entitled to a free education, including in the academic area when people go on to become an accountant, a lawyer or something else. It is also great to see the facilities for apprenticeships, especially in the college in Dundalk. Years ago, people looked down on apprenticeships, but it is a fantastic job. Once people get an apprenticeship, they can perhaps go on to third level education and get a degree. It is not all doom and gloom. I thank the Minster. She is very approachable, which I appreciate.

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