User:rorynoonanDate:22/06/2013Time:08:26:39Edition:22/06/2013Satsatecho220613Page:1Color:
EE - V0
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013
EDITION NO. 34,945
Serving Cork for 120 years
TDs’ plan to slash cost of schooling
Calls to BAN expensive uniforms, SCRAP voluntary contributions and introduce FREE schoolbooks
A BAN on expensive uniforms and voluntary contributions is among a raft of proposals to be unveiled this week, aimed at reducing the financial burden on hard-pressed parents.
Glamorous girls having a ball
Audrey Dempsey-Walsh, of Rathcormac, Julie Long, of Glanworth, and Annemarie O’Donovan, of Ballyvolane, looking glamorous at the ReachOut.com Ball in the Montenotte Hotel last night. More pictures from the event on Monday. Picture: David Keane
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An Oireachtas report due to be published on Tuesday has slammed the cost of sending children to school. Cork TD Jonathan O’Brien, a member of the committee who compiled the report, has called on the Education Minister to introduce the measures recommended to ease the burden. The news comes as parents start planning to budget for the huge costs associated with sending their children back to school in September. The average cost of sending a child into senior infants is €355, while the average cost of sending a child into first year at second-level is €770, according to recent statistics. The report by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection suggests: ● Banning expensive crested uniforms, which cost up to three times more than non-crested ones.
By DEIRDRE O’REILLY ● Discouraging, if not completely prohibiting, voluntary contributions. ● A free schoolbook system to be introduced within five years. Mr O’Brien, the Sinn Féin education spokesperson and a father of four, said the costs of sending children to school have to come down. “There is no such thing as free education any more and it’s now up to the Minister to act on the issue and if needs be take on the patrons of these schools,” said the Cork North Central TD. The strongly worded report has also called for a universal schoolbook rental scheme to be introduced, and described the lack of cost-saving measures as a ‘vacuum of leadership’. It is also critical of money being handed over by parents for extra-curricular activities. “The Minister will simply have to intervene on the issue,” added Mr O’Brien, “there is no reason why he can’t send a directive to schools. For many families school is now a financial burden rather than an opportunity for children.”
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