Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The Minister again thanks Deputies O'Rourke, Clarke and Ó Laoghaire for bringing forward this Bill and for giving the House an opportunity to debate an issue that affects many families in the country. The Deputies' concern for affordability in education is both genuine and shared across this Chamber. We may differ on the mechanisms, but not on the principle. Every child deserves to go to school without cost being a barrier and no parent should feel financial pressure simply because they want to give their child the best start.

I recognise, as the Deputies do, that the start of each school year can bring financial strain. School-related costs tend to arrive at once and for many families, that creates real pressure. That is precisely why the Government has made affordability a cornerstone of our education policy and why we have already taken major, practical steps to address the very issues raised in this Bill. Our approach has been to implement comprehensively instead of in a piecemeal way, to support families in a sustainable way and to embed affordability across the education system. Through the review and strengthening of Circular 0032/2017, which relates to back to school costs and includes school uniform costs, we are ensuring schools adopt effective measures to make school uniforms affordable, from using generic, widely available items to promoting swap shops and removing exclusive supplier arrangements. This is a key action in the education plan 2025. Crucially, we are doing this in partnership with parents and students. The working group, established by the Department of Education and Youth to review the circular, includes representatives from the National Parents Council and other education partners. It will engage directly with families and young people to hear their views on how best to reduce the back to school costs.

The Government believes that the best policies are built with communities, not simply imposed on them. We believe that our approach acknowledges the responsibilities of all people in our children's lives, parents and school staff alike, to support the quality of their teaching and learning in schools. It also acknowledges our responsibility as a Government to support our school communities in working together in the best interests of children and young people. That is why the Minister, Deputy McEntee, intends to progress the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019, which will, for the first time, make it a statutory duty for every school to consult with parents and students on all key policies and activities, not just on school uniforms. The charter Bill aims to embed transparency and respect among all members of school communities. It will make clear that parents and students are not passive recipients of decisions but genuine partners in shaping them. The Bill will also replace section 28 of the Education Act 1998 with a new section 28. Working with other provisions of the Bill, this amendment will ensure that all schools will be required to have, and implement, standardised complaints procedures for parental complaints and complaints from pupils and students.

The charter guidelines, which will be developed in consultation with education stakeholders, will set out the details of the grievance procedures. These will focus on dealing with complaints efficiently, effectively and, insofar as possible, informally. The overall approach of the charter Bill is to move away from reacting to problems in schools after they arise to an early intervention approach that aims to improve the day-to-day experience students and their parents can expect from schools. In doing so, it is envisaged that the number of complaints in schools should reduce. We are not stopping there.

Uniforms are just one element of the overall cost of schooling. That is why our response has been, and will continue to be, comprehensive. From September of this year, every child and young person in the free education scheme - almost 1,000,000 students - will receive free school books and core classroom material. This is an investment of €170 million per year. It represents the full delivery of a major programme for Government commitment. Families will no longer be asked to buy books or pay book rental fees. Schools will handle provision directly, ensuring every euro is spent efficiently and effectively. This is one of the most significant cost reduction measures every introduced in Irish education.

We are also giving schools the means to manage their own costs more sustainably. In budget 2026, the Department of Education and Youth secured €39 million in additional capitation funding for schools. This includes an increase of €50 per pupil at primary level, an increase of €20 per student at post-primary level and enhanced supports for DEIS and special schools. These are substantial increases. Capitation funding has increased almost 50% at primary level and 28% at post-primary level over the past three budgets. This ensures schools can cover essential running costs. We have also ensured the cost of getting to school remains manageable. An extra €69 million in budget 2026 has been allocated to meet rising demand and transport costs. We have seen a particular increase in demand for school transport for pupils with special educational needs and we are delighted to be able to offer this service for free to these students.

In addition, €58 million in cost of living supports for 2025 allowed us to continue the reduced transport fees introduced in recent years for children and young people accessing the mainstream transport service. As a result, families are benefiting from the following fees in this school year: €50 per primary pupil; €75 per post-primary pupil; and a family cap of €125. These measures have made a tangible difference in easing the back-to-chool costs and ensuring access to education is not limited by geography or income. The hot school meals scheme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance. It provides free, nutritious meals to children during the school day. It helps families reduce the cost of school-related expenses while also supporting children's health and learning. The hot school meals scheme was extended to all primary schools during 2025. This means that in total, 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are now eligible for the hot school meals scheme.

The Government's position is clear and grounded in evidence. We are not opposing this Bill because we disagree with its goals; we are doing so because these goals are being achieved in a more integrated and effective way. We are addressing back to school costs at every level through updated guidance for schools and school uniforms, direct engagement with parents and students, free school books, enhanced capitation and affordable transport. We are doing so as part of a coherent policy framework that promotes equality, sustainability and fairness across our entire education system.

In closing, I again thank the Deputies for their commitment to this issue and for the constructive debate we have had. Their concern reflects the concerns of families right across Ireland and those are concerns I share deeply. However, I believe the path we are on through sustained investment, meaningful consultation and evidence-based reform is the right one. It is delivering results and it will continue to do so. The review of Circular 0032/2017, the enactment of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 and our broad package of cost reduction measures together form a coherent, joined-up strategy to make education genuinely affordable for all. For that reason, while I respectfully ask the House to decline to give this Bill a Second Stage reading, I do so with a firm commitment that this Government will continue to act decisively, compassionately and in partnership with parents, students and schools so that no family in Ireland will have to struggle to meet the cost of sending their children to school.

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