Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has said that government must intervene to cancel its planned increases in student fees and to expand the Free Book Scheme to secondary schools.
The Co. Waterford representative was speaking ahead of a Dáil motion on the issue being brought forward by Sinn Féin.
McGuinness said:
“I believe education must be genuinely free and accessible to all.
“Education costs are an even bigger worry for many this year as the cost of living crisis continues. There are things that the government can and must do to ease the pressure on parents and students. They need to act now.
“Fees continue to be a barrier to education, hold back students, prevent them from entering third level and in many cases are a large financial burden for parents too. The government, incredibly, intends to increase student fees this September.
“Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Higher Education, Mairéad Farrell, is calling on government to cancel the planned increase to student contributions charges and instead commit to phasing out fees over the coming years.”
“Primary and post-primary education in this state is intended to be ‘free’, under constitution and legislation, but the reality is profoundly different.
“According to the most recent Irish League of Credit Unions ‘back to school costs’ survey funding back to school continues to be a challenge for parents, with 66% saying that covering the cost of back to school is a financial burden.
“School books remain one of the most expensive items for parents of secondary school children in Waterford, with an average associated cost per pupil of approximately €210 per year.
“Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Education, Sorca Clarke, who is calling on government to expand the Free Book Scheme to secondary schools to ease the financial burden on parents who are worried about back to school costs.”
ENDS
Conor D. McGuinness TD 