Schools urged to cut back on ‘specialised’ uniforms [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 26 August 2010
SCHOOLS have been told by the Government’s consumer watchdog to stop forcing parents to buy expensive uniforms.
But Tánaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan has refused to direct schools to avoid policies that restrict parents from getting the best value.
The Department of Social Protection has already paid out close to €60 million in allowances for uniforms and school shoes but looks likely to exceed its €82m budget as 1,000 applications arrive in every day.
The situation is different between schools as there is no standardised policy. Some schools have jumpers, tracksuits, sports gear and jackets which all carry the school crest and can only be bought from one supplier.
"We would urge all school managements to be sensitive to the monetary pressures which prescriptive requirements in relation to school uniforms can place on parents and to minimise costs where possible," National Consumer Agency chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said.
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