Free hot meals and books proposal launched for children in DEIS schools

PROPOSALS have been launched that would see free hot meals for all children in DEIS primary schools as well as free schoolbooks rolled out over a five-year government term.

Sinn Féin launched the proposals, which would help families who are struggling financially by the growing costs of sending their children to school.

Speaking about the free hot meals proposal, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Eoin O’Broin said that he has seen first-hand families in the local area who are “crippled” by the financial burden of sending kids back to school:

“Ireland’s education system is being heavily subsidised by families,” he said.

“Families are put to the pin of their collar year on year, to meet the costs of books, uniforms, voluntary contributions – the list goes on.

“Parents make every effort to cover these costs, many getting themselves into debt as a result, and often at the expense of their own personal needs.

“Successive governments have slashed capitation funding for schools, leaving parents to make up the shortfall through huge voluntary contributions.”

At the beginning of this year, the ‘Hot School Meals Programme 2021’ was launched by the Government in which 189 primary schools including 171 DEIS schools were chosen for the programme, including Sacred Heart Junior and Senior Schools, Cnoc Mhuire Senior School, Knockmore JNS in Tallaght.

The aim of this hot school meals pilot programme is to provide regular nutritious meals to children who, due to food quality, may be unable to take full advantage of the education provided to them.

These proposals from Sinn Féin would enhance this current programme, ensuring that all children in DEIS primary schools receive a hot meal during the school day as well as fully free schoolbooks for all children through increased funding over several budgets.

Mark Ward TD for Dublin Mid-West said that it is “alarming” that parents are having to fundraise to keep the lights and heating on in their children’s schools.

He said: “It shouldn’t have to be this way. It is high time we tackle the high costs of education on families.

“Our plans launched today would increase per-pupil funding across schools, to bring about an end to the reliance on voluntary contributions and parental fundraising.

“The piecemeal supports provided by successive governments have done little to ease the huge financial burden on parents each year.

“With the proposals we have set out in our policy document, ‘Let’s Tackle Back to School Costs’, we can give parents a break, and ensure that equal educational outcomes can be secured for all children, regardless of their family’s income.”