Families across Galway are being “crippled by requests” from the school their children attend, for ‘voluntary’ contributions which can run to €100 or €200 per child, and even as much as €300-400 in some cases.
This is the view of Sinn Féin Galway West TD, Mairéad Farrell [pictured below], who said ‘voluntary’ contributions are placing “considerable financial strain” on families. She also said that the contributions are “voluntary in name only”.
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“In some instances, students and families can be denied certain services and extra-curricular activities and can face stigma,” she said. “When added to the costs of uniforms, of school books and of school transport, this represents a very significant and unfair financial burden on families.”
She also said the St Vincent De Paul has warned that it is receiving “hundreds of phone calls” from parents who are anxious about these expensive costs.
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Dep Farrell said it is worrying that schools need to ask parents to help fund “basic necessities”, and that this is down to a lack of funding from the Government. “Schools shouldn’t be so underfunded that they have to seek contributions and fundraise for basic things like keeping the lights and heating on,” she said.
As a result, Sinn Féin is asking families to get in touch and share their experiences about how these costs are affecting them. Those interested in sharing their experiences can contact the party’s spokesperson on Education, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD via [email protected].
