Families need help with school costs - Tully

The government is being urged to do "much more" to support middle income families struggling with back-to-school costs.

Making the call this week, Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan Pauline Tully highlighted a package of measures published by Sinn Féin to cut school costs such as uniforms, schoolbooks, lunches, voluntary contributions and transport.

“Families are already under huge pressure due to the cost of living crisis and will be under real financial pressure to cover these bills. I have been contacted by families across Cavan-Monaghan who are very worried about how they will manage to meet these costs and stay on top of their basic bills as well. This should not be happening. No-one should face this stress or the prospect of going into debt, just to send a child to school," Deputy Tully told the Celt.

Acknowledging recent government initiatives such as free school transport and a €100 increase per child in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, Deputy Tully said they do not go far enough.

Sinn Féin proposes extending this allowance to cover an additional 500,000 children, among other measures.

“People who have one child in school and who have a combined income of €620 or more per week don’t get any assistance in terms of Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Sinn Féin are proposing that this eligibility is widened to include middle income earners," outlined Deputy Tully.

“There is still time to act, but the government cannot delay any longer. This issue is urgent. We are already in the middle of summer and these costs are coming in. Families cannot wait any longer," she insisted.