Sinn Féin calls for €20m fund to abolish school voluntary contributions

Calls have been made for the establishment of a €20m, ring-fenced fund to abolish school voluntary contributions.

Sinn Féin has also called for a €50 increase in the clothing and footwear allowance as part of plans to tackle the spiralling costs of sending children back to school.

The Government has already increased the back-to-school clothing and footwear grant for next month which will see the allowance rise from €100 to €125 for children aged four to 11, while the allowance will go up by €50 to €250 for children over 12.