Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has said the government must do much more to support families in Donegal with back-to-school costs.
Speaking today, Teachta Doherty said: “I have been contacted by families across Donegal who are worried about how they will manage to meet back-to-school costs and stay on top of their basic bills as well.
“I am urging the government to ensure they deliver on all of Sinn Féin’s proposals to cut back-to-school costs so that families in Donegal can urgently have money back in their pockets.”
Last month, Sinn Féin published a package of measures that set out how families can get much-needed support for these spiralling costs as the price of lunches, uniforms, schoolbooks, transport and voluntary contributions can reach thousands of euro.
They also proposed that eligibility for the ‘Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance’ is extended to include middle income families.
“These are people on modest incomes who are working hard yet can’t afford to pay these increased back-to-school costs,” Doherty said.
“It would be fair and reasonable for the eligibility to be widened to ensure these families get a break from the cost of living crisis.
“This would make a real difference to so many people here in Donegal.”
