Back to school costs merit Budget cost of living package - Clarke

Sinn Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke TD, has called on the Government to provide a cost of living package in this year's Budget.

Clarke made her Government plea following the latest report from children's charity group Barnardos, which highlighted the pressure on parents to cover back-to-school costs.

She said the report must act as a wake-up call for Government who remain oblivious to the huge stress and hardship facing workers and families across the state.

“This report from Barnardos yet again lays bare the need for a cost-of-living package in this year’s budget.

“The report outlines that back-to-schools 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, people simply cannot afford this annual financial blow.

“As the reports detailing the level of financial pressure on ordinary workers and families stack up, so too do the excuses from 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.

“This latest Barnardos report tells us that over half of parents of schoolchildren are worried about back-to-school 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% of secondary and 14% primary school parents said they had to use savings, while 15% and 8%, 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 instalments. They said ‘I will go into debt until March the following year until it’s all paid back, then it repeats again in August. My worries are if I can keep this up year after year’.

“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 on ignoring the stress and hardship so many are experiencing and pretending 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.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to get their heads out of the sand and wake up to the realities that people are facing. The cost-of-living crisis has not gone away.

“The Government must come to its senses and commit to a cost-of-living package in this year’s budget," Teachta Clarke said.