‘Report on rising back-to-school costs must be a wake-up call for the government’

Donegal TD Pádraig MacLochlainn has said the latest report from Barnardos, which highlights the pressure on parents to cover back-to-school costs, yet again lays bare the need for a cost-of-living package in this year’s Budget.

The Buncrana Sinn Fein Deputy said the report must act as a wake-up call for the government, which remains oblivious to the huge stress and hardship facing workers and families across the State.

He said: “The report outlines how back-to-school costs often reach up to €1,100 for secondary school and €725 for primary school students. Families are already struggling to keep their heads above water as the cost-of-living crisis continues to spiral out of control.”

“As the reports detailing the level of financial pressure on ordinary workers and families stack up, so too do the excuses from the government as to why they won’t offer support. The Children’s Ombudsman confirmed to an Oireachtas committee in recent weeks that child poverty has doubled in the last year.”

Deputy MacLochlainn said the Barnardos data reveals how more than half of parents of schoolchildren are worried about costs.

“Parents are particularly concerned about the costs of uniforms, voluntary contributions, and for secondary school parents, the increasing cost of digital devices.”

“Parents are forced to use savings, take out loans, and cut back on other essentials to cover the costs. A shocking 27 per cent of secondary and 14 per cent of primary school parents said they had to use savings, while 15 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, had to take out a loan or borrow from family and friends.”

“One secondary school parent outlined in the survey that they will not pay their gas and electric bill in August and will take out a loan and use installments.”

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The Sinn Fein TD said “it does not have to be this way”.

“At a time when the State has record surpluses of €23.7 billion, to have families being pushed to the brink to cover basic back-to-school costs is scandalous.”

“This government has the resources to ensure that families are not left in situations like this. However, they seem content to ignore the stress and hardship so many are experiencing and pretend that the cost-of-living crisis is over.”

“Sinn Féin has a plan to make back-to-school costs more affordable. We would put money back in your pocket with a double child benefit payment in September and by doubling the clothing and footwear allowance.”

“The government must come to its senses and commit to a cost-of-living package in this year’s Budget,” MacLochlainn stressed once again.