Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has welcomed a report that is before the Oireachtas Education Committee that calls on schools to stop forcing students to wear expensive crested uniforms.

This is a measure Deputy Crowe has been supportive of along with other measures to reduce the costs of sending kids to school.

Speaking today Deputy Crowe said;

“A 2011 survey of 1,000 people by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) found that on average, €400 will be spent annually on each individual child attending school. A significant percentage of the sum is spent on school uniforms.

“That is why I am welcoming this proposal from Labour’s Aodháin Ó Riordáin and I congratulate him for producing his report.

“I believe relatively straightforward, sensible measures including standardising the design and colours of uniforms and providing an option for parents to sew on school crests would allow families the opportunity to shop around for better deals and not be forced to rely on a select number of retailers who can charge outrageous prices for uniforms.

“The days of parents being ripped off by a racket that inflates the price of a simple crest on a school uniform needs to be ended and relegated to the past.

“These recommendations need actions by the Minister for Education and school boards. Hard pressed parents could do with at least some good news before pupils return to school in September.”

ENDS