1000 Euro's Per Child Under Six, promised in Cowen's Budget 2005

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday August 08, 2006 21:04

by Chris Murray - The Unmanageables

Payments Begin Next Week. (In Time for Back to School Headache Spend)

Unfortunately for the Labour Party- who today, released a press statement,
(The Annual Press Release about how expensive it is to send a child to school).

About a 1000 euro's per child. Which when you think about it , is pretty crazy.
This is the state school sector: who send parents letters about registration fees
(an annual thing now) wherein, in secondary, you have to re-register your child
every year for a suggested fee. Then there is the locker fee, the voluntary subscription
(suggested amount 150 per child) The books, shoes (they wear out damn quick).
Registration, suggested donation, locker fee and books : about 500 euros per secondary
school child. (and More)

School bag, coats, trainers etc. Marginally better in primary, where the books don't
break the back and it's cool to have a bag on wheels. There is a suggested donation
though it is often requested on a weekly basis and is waived by the principal
if there is hardship. Some schools collect children's clothing for the poorer families and
provide made-up lunches and collection services, translation services and
community support.

A one -off state payment , promised in last year's budget of 1000 euros per child
under six will aid the issue. Private schools are averaging 3,550 upwards, and the
take-up is phenomenal. In fact the state school sector is starved of income
and talented teachers. The school refurbishing and building programme underspent
last year and the provision of educational psychologists is still listed as averaging
2-3 students of a pool of requested examinations of more than 50 students in one primary
school. Private organisations provide these facilities at a high cost, the waiting list is brief
and the student can go to a good private where the classes are smaller and the
attention to detail is greater.

So, the budget pay-out begins next week, these four pay-outs , will
be eaten into pretty quick by the state school sector and the perhaps slightly over-stretched
private sector.The Minister for finance got a jump on the Labour Party (by a few months) it seems,
because a lot of people won't care where it's coming from, once costs are alleiviated.

(Must do Better)*

http://www.unison.ie/feature/budget2006/measures/?ca=41...it=20