The Labour Party has called for the abolition of voluntary contributions to non-fee-paying schools.
Parents should not be forced to compensate for the cost of underfunded schools, the party argued yesterday at the publication of a Labour survey showing that it will cost nearly €1,000 on average to send a child to a non-fee- paying secondary school this year and nearly €700 to fund a child in national school. Voluntary contributions will account for much of the bill. Uniforms and books will make up the remainder of the cost. Lunches add an additional €850 per year for secondary pupils and €680 per year for primary pupils.
Speaking at the publication of the survey, the Labour Party Spokesperson on Education, Ms Jan O'Sullivan said they proposed a series of measures the Government should take to alleviate the high costs involved in the return to school.
They include increasing the rate of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, increasing funding for the School Book Rental Scheme, extending the School Meals Scheme and eliminating voluntary contributions from parents.
"The costs associated with the return to school in September are extremely high and impose immense financial hardship on many families, especially those on social welfare and low incomes and those with large families," she stated.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance should reflect rising prices by increasing to €140 for primary students and €220 for secondary students, she said.
To make it easier to avail of the various grants, the Labour party has called for the centralisation of these services in one Department, as well as "a coherent campaign of publicity from the Department of Education to draw attention to the schemes and allowances that are available".