7 Beal 2013, 16:35
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection meets with representatives from Barnardos, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the National Parents Council (Primary) and National Parents Council (Post- Primary) to discuss the policy steps required to curb back to school costs.
7 May 2013
The Committee met with a range of school representative bodies in October and invited submissions from interested individuals and organisations on the subject earlier in the year. Vice-Chair of the Committee, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, in conjunction with Committee Members, is currently compiling a report on the costs for parents sending their children to primary and secondary school.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin says: “Surveys indicate the increasing concern among parents about the costs associated with sending their children back to school and our Committee is exploring measures which can ease this burden. Providing for text books, stationary supplies, uniforms and, in rural areas, school transport comes to an average of €487 for primary school children and €620 for those attending secondary school, according to recent figures.”
“The discussions tomorrow with the representatives of parents and charities will gauge the level of concern and what potential changes are required at national and at school level to minimise back to school costs. The discussions tomorrow will flow into a report the Committee intends to publish on the matter later in the year.”
The Committee meeting will commence with a scrutiny of a series of EU legislative proposals. Among the priority proposals being considered are COM(2011) 883, which provides for a consolidation of professional training qualifications across the European Union, and COM (2012)889, which proposes the establishment of a Youth Guarantee.
The meeting takes place tomorrow 8 May at 1pm in Committee Room 3. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie