Labour criticises Hanafin over school costs

The Labour Party has attacked the Government over what it claims is insufficient support for parents in meeting the cost of sending children back to school.

Labour said today it had conducted a study which found some parents will have to spend up to €1,000 on books, uniforms and other items for each child entering Secondary School after the summer holidays.

The party's education spokeswoman, Jan O'Sullivan, said the figures show the Government must increase the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance that is available to those on welfare or low incomes.

The current rate payable is €120 for children aged two to 11 and €190 for those aged between 12 and 17.

Ms O'Sullivan called for the income limits on parents to be raised to enable more parents receive the grants. In addition, Ms O'Sullivan called for increased efforts to raise awareness of the scheme. Some €2 million allocated to the scheme went unclaimed in 2004 due to parents not being aware of their entitlements.

"This is simply not acceptable, and the information deficit or administrative obstacles that prevent parents claiming their entitlements must be tackled," Ms O'Sullivan said.

Minister for Social Affairs, Séamus Brennan responded to the comments today, saying: "In the 24 hours since the publication of the IMF  report, we have heard Fine Gael demand less spending and Labour demand more. The only point of agreement between them is that both resolutely refuse to publish any fiscal or taxation proposals, let alone a costed budget.

"No political party disputes the desirability of increased spending on many deserving areas.  However, an essential qualification for any party in Government is to make critical choices about levels of taxation, levels of spending and the targeting of resources. Fine Gael and Labour resolutely refuse to do this.

"The reality is this year we have dedicated €26 million for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to ease the financial pressure facing many parents as we approach the new school year," Mr Brennan added.

"This is an increase of 50pc on last year and has made a real difference to almost 160,000 students and their families."

Ms O'Sullivan also demanded that Minister for Education Mary Hanafin extend the school book rental scheme.

"At present schools are dependent on the goodwill of staff to run the scheme, and very little funding is available for the sizeable cost of purchasing books to rent out," she said.

Finally, Labour criticised the fact many children are obliged to wear designated uniforms that are frequently available only from specific shops. " The requirement to buy a specific shirt or jumper, with a particular school crest, can often double the price of the garment," Ms O'Sullivan added.

She supported a call from the Combat Poverty Agency for Ms Hanafin to examine the possibility of introducing a standardised school uniform throughout the State to cut costs.