Sinn Fein proposes free hot meals for children in DEIS primary schools

Sinn Fein has announced that is proposing a motion that would provide free hot meals for all children in DEIS primary schools, and free school books for all childrne over a five-year government term.

Dublin Mid-West TD Eoin O’Broin said that some parents are struggling to keep up with the costs of sending their children to school.

“Ireland’s education system is being heavily subsidised by families,” he says.

“Every summer, I speak to families in Dublin Mid-West who are being crippled by the growing costs of sending their kids back to school.

“Families are put to the pin of their collar year on year, to meet the costs of books, uniforms, voluntary contributions – the list goes on.

“Parents make every effort to cover these costs, many getting themselves into debt as a result, and often at the expense of their own personal needs.

“Successive governments have slashed capitation funding for schools, leaving parents to make up the shortfall through huge voluntary contributions.”

TD Mark Ward said that some parents have had to “fundraise to keep the lights and the heating on in their children’s schools.

“It shouldn’t have to be this way. It is high time we tackle the high costs of education on families.

“Our plans launched today would increase per-pupil funding across schools, to bring about an end to the reliance on voluntary contributions and parental fundraising.

“Our plans would provide fully free school books for all children, through increases in funding over a number of budgets.

“We would significantly enhance the School Meals Programme, ensuring that all children in DEIS primary schools receive a hot meal during the school day.

“The piecemeal supports provided by successive governments have done little to ease the huge financial burden on parents each year.

“With the proposals we have set out in our policy document, ‘Let’s Tackle Back to School Costs’, we can give parents a break, and ensure that equal educational outcomes can be secured for all children, regardless of their family’s income.”