Crowe says free education in Ireland is a “myth”

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe said that the myth of free education does not match up with reality as more and more parents are struggling with the costs of sending their children to school each year.

The Barnardo’s survey on back-to-school costs showed that the average cost of enrolling a child in their first year of secondary school now stands at €972, which Crowe says flies in the face of “the myth of free education”

“The myth that there is free education in Ireland cannot stand up to the hundreds needed to be spent on sending children to school, particularly with the new costs such as on digital learning aids that were not an issue even ten years ago.”

Crowe said the findings back up a survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions which showed that families are struggling to meet the cost of sending their children to school in conjunction with other rises attributed to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

“Sinn Féin has a plan to cut back-to-school costs and to end this financial pressure on families; we would introduce affordable school uniforms, expand the school transport scheme, ensure every child has access to a hot meal in school, and stop families being pressured into paying voluntary contributions.”

“Sinn Féin would ensure families get a break from back-to-school costs now. This would help families by ensuring that they get the support they need.”

Crowe’s calls for the Government to do more to tackle rising education costs for children is echoed by fellow Dublin opposition TD  Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who has called on Minister for Education Norma Foley to “step up.”

Ó Ríordáin said “this Government constantly tells us we have money to spare, we’re at full employment, yet when it comes to the practicalities, they are utterly failing.”