I wish to raise the significant issue of back-to-school costs. It is my understanding that children who are entitled to school-based July provision will have to pay upwards of €120 for extracurricular activities during that period. I also wish to raise a significant issue in regard to schools requiring children to get laptops, tablets or ICT equipment for the coming academic year. It is my understanding that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, has written to all of the relevant schools in regard to this, but schools are still requiring them. A parent has contacted me. She is a carer for her husband and does not receive carer's allowance due to the means coming into the house and is not entitled to any exceptional needs payment. Anybody who applies for an exceptional needs payment to pay for ICT equipment finds the payment does not cover that. Will the Government extend the exceptional needs payment to cover ICT equipment for schools? Will it also look into the payment of upwards of €120 for those availing of school-based July provision for extra curricular activities?

Sentiment score: 0.13