Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Clarke and Deputy Mairéad Farrell on bringing this motion forward. The summer months are meant to be a positive time for parents. They are meant to be a time to spend with their family and children and where good memories are made. Unfortunately, for a lot of parents the summer months are a very stressful and worrying time because they are looking to September and are looking at the lists of uniforms, workbooks and so on coming in, as well as at lists of textbooks at secondary school and fees at third level. At this time, there are parents right now who are trying to figure out first how they will get through the summer and second, pay these bills. Unfortunately, many will end up going to moneylenders, including illegal moneylenders who have extortionate interest rates, and will put themselves under very severe pressure. We know from the Irish League of Credit Unions that 66% of people say that covering the cost of going back to school is a severe financial burden. For organisations such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, it is one of their busiest times of the year and they get enormous numbers of phone calls seeking things that are essential, because every parent wants to ensure his or her child has the ability to access a decent education. We are supposed to have a system where primary and post-primary education is free. The reality is that is a myth. It is not free; it is anything but. I acknowledge the steps forward that have been taken regarding free schoolbooks at primary level but I will also note that is something that was campaigned for by this side of the House and by organisations such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Irish League of Credit Unions for years, if not decades. We are three quarters of a century behind the North when it comes to free schoolbooks and while it is welcome, it certainly has been a long time in coming and we need to see it at post-primary level.

However, there are other significant costs on which we have not made any progress. The issue of uniforms is significant and will probably require different forms of legislation. I have tabled such legislation but the Government has not worked with me. The same is true with voluntary contributions. Not only did the Government not support the legislation on voluntary contributions, it voted to delay and delay again our Bill to tackle voluntary contributions. This is a huge cost for families so if the Government is serious, it needs to start supporting legislation the Opposition brings forward to cut costs.

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