Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)

This Bill has been proposed by my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, and by Sinn Féin at a time when the cost of living is on everyone's lips. It is a very aptly called the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025. During the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the cost of school uniforms has become a huge financial burden on families. The average cost of a full school kit, including gym gear, can be up to €420 per pupil. If there are three siblings, the cost becomes €1,260.

According to the ESRI, as a result of the recent budget the overall earnings of average workers will go down by 2%. Food and grocery prices have risen by 27% between 2021 and 2025. Property tax has gone up by 23% since 2021. Fuel, home heating and electricity bills are the highest in Europe. There is a double cost attached to these uniforms because, as sure as night follows day, voluntary contributions will also have to increase. In fact, the Irish League of Credit Unions has found that almost 80% of schools rely totally on this surcharge. We know that schools throughout the country have a uniform policy that mandates parents to purchase specific design-crested uniforms, including gym wear and jackets. More often than not, the provider of these uniforms is a single entity with a sole contract cutting out any form of competition or any chance of reduction on the items, which means that uniforms will increase in cost each year.

Sinn Féin's affordable uniforms Bill would go a long way to help families and guardians to reduce the cost of school uniforms, and particularly to help large families to cope with this expense in their children's education. The Government amendment is an affront to parents and families throughout our country. The Government said eight years ago, in 2017, that it was going to review a circular and establish a working group, including representatives from the National Parents Council and educational partners. Not one thing has been done in the past eight years to alleviate the exponentially increasing cost of school uniforms. The answer is already under the Minister's nose. He should simply agree to pass Deputy O'Rourke's Bill, and stop wasting time with reviews and bogus amendments.

See this speech in context