Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Farrell. I appreciate it is hugely challenging for parents and for schools. Deputy Farrell specifically referenced parents. The Government has been very cognisant of that. The Deputy will be aware of the myriad of measures we have introduced in this regard. For example, for the benefit of parents, there is the free school books scheme, at a cost of €110 million, under which books and resources are free for children at primary school level. From this September, they will be free for the first three years at post-primary level. We have reduced the cost of school transport. It costs €50 for a primary school child to travel on school transport, €100 for a child at post-primary level and €125 for a family ticket. At this time, it costs the State €1,100 per pupil to do that. Exam fees for both the junior and leaving certificates have been removed. As for DEIS schools, there are additional schemes in which we are providing more than €180 million to support parents.

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