Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)

As the Tánaiste will be aware, the basic necessities such as food, housing, energy, healthcare, rents and transportation have risen in price much faster than the average household income. This is placing enormous pressure on schools, teachers and parents to meet their very basic demands in our schools, particularly in my county of Wexford. The programme for Government states that the Government will increase the capitation grant to ensure schools can meet these costs, yet schools are funded to the same rates since 2009. Will the primary capitation grant be increased by €75 per pupil in the upcoming budget as recommended by the INTO? Schools and parents are straining to pay their basic bills and cover their costs.

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