Letters to the Editor: Government must address funding ahead of school reopenings

IE LIVE NEWS 9/6/10 ... /Students at the start of the junior certificate examination at Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig. Picture Denis Minihane.

I write in support of Seán O’Riordan (August 12th) of National Parents Council and his concern at the ever rising cost to parents of their children getting back to school.

Although the average cost for secondary schools is €140, many Catholic secondary schools ask for up to €200 per annum per child as a “voluntary contribution”. The reason for this is simple. When compared with the Government’s own Education Training Board Community schools, church schools get twenty percent less capitation.