Concerns by Barnardos that parents are being forced to 'cover things like photocopying costs and art materials'

Barnardos  is strongly supporting the call from the Catholic Primary School Management Association for the restoration of capitation grants to schools back to 2010 levels.

June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy, Barnardos said: “Free education is a myth. We know schools face significant shortfalls due to the drop in capitation rates over the last decade and they in turn are forced to pass this shortfall onto parents to fulfil. The request for voluntary contributions remains a constant feature as does expecting parents to pay for all classroom resources and art supplies. Why do parents have to pay to provide the basics and ensure all children have what they need to learn the curriculum?"

She said:“Our 2017 survey saw a drop in the number of parents being asking for voluntary contributions but there was an increase in requests for classroom resource contributions – 83% of primary school parents surveyed reported paying resource fees to cover things like photocopying costs and art materials."

Ms Tinsley said: “We have repeatedly called on the Government to commit to providing truly free education, to ensure all children have what they need to learn the curriculum. For an additional €103.2m annually they could guarantee that every child’s constitutional right to a free primary education is fulfilled. This minimal investment would reap dividends for the child ensuring a level playing field for all children and ease considerable pressure of parents. Unfortunately, it is clear that children are not a political priority, we need to ensure that all children are supported to fulfil their potential and that no child is lost to an underfunded or under resourced education system.”