Government must act to end ‘crippling’ school costs, says TD

The Government must urgently take action to protect families from crippling school costs, says Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Bay North, Denise Mitchell.

Her comments follow the publication of a report by St Vincent De Paul, that details how some parents feel forced to take out loans or get help from charities to cover the costs.

“Yesterday’s report from St Vincent De Paul makes for highly concerning reading,” she said.

“It is clear that families are under huge pressure from school costs.

“The price of uniforms, tablets and devices, books and transport can be crippling.

“On top of these, schools are asking families to pay hundreds of Euros in voluntary contributions as well.

“Parents’ money cannot stretch that far and they are under real pressure.

“Every year I am contacted by families in Dublin who are deeply anxious about these spiralling costs.

“This is particularly worrying this year as families are already struggling with a cost of living crisis.”

Deputy Mitchell said that the reason why parents and schools are struggling with costs is because of the “government’s failure to invest.”

“The government needs to ensure that schools have adequate funding, instead of expecting the buck to be passed on to parents when schools’ funding falls short.

“It has been two years since Sinn Féin brought forward our legislation, but the government has sat on its hands.

“I am urging the government to end the delay and enact Sinn Féin’s legislation immediately. If not, they need to come forward with their own solutions.

“Families in Dublin can’t be expected to keep waiting. They need help now.”