I welcome this comprehensive set of proposals from Deputy Kenny. We are at the time of year again when parents, particularly those in the low- and middle-income brackets, face the annual challenge of covering back-to-school costs. Families are facing a stack of fees and expenses in respect of uniforms, increased school transport costs, school stationery, so-called voluntary contributions, and laptops and IT equipment. In addition, State exam fees are back. Surveys show that the total cost per school year can accumulate to €1,700 for primary school children and up to €2,900 for secondary school children. For families with a number of school-going children, this can be a major headache. While I acknowledge that the free schoolbooks scheme and the book-rental scheme result in savings and are a help, those savings are wiped out by the cost of having to buy IT equipment. Such equipment is now mandated in schools and can cost up to €500 or more. Then there are all the other costs that the National Parents Council has consistently highlighted. These are the hidden costs such as transition year contributions, payments for school trips, etc. In the struggle to meet these costs, many households turn to moneylenders because there is nowhere else to go. In some cases, they pay penal amounts to illegal moneylenders who charge rates of interest in excess of 50%. In light of the cost-of-living crisis, there is an onus on us to do all we can to help the low- and middle-income households. We have a reasonably good education system, but we must deal with the issue of costs. In the context of the proposals in the motion regarding the introduction of enforceable guidelines for schools and the fact that some schools have a mandatory requirement in respect of laptops and IT equipment, it is important that these be mandated as opposed to just the subject of a letter that was sent out. We also need to restore the school grant up to an amount of €50 million in order to cover the cost of ICT infrastructure. We need to restore the €100 that was cut from the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and issue a ministerial order to schools in relation to generic uniforms. It is a terrible situation. I remember hearing a conversation between my mother and an aunt years ago regarding the benefit of school uniforms. They said that every child would look the same and there would be no competition for fashion, particularly in girls' schools. However, what has happened is-----

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-----that we have stood that on its head. It is important that we increase the capitation grant for schools as well.

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