A Dublin TD has called on schools to remove the crest from jumpers and jackets to cut down on back to school costs.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to rampage all over household budgets, another financial blow will be dealt to families in the form of kids going back to school. New books, uniforms and stationary are just some of the extra expenses.
Social Democrats education spokesman Gary Gannon believes crests on jumpers and jackets should not be mandatory as it will give a lifeline to struggling families. However, he said the crest is important as it promotes pride of place and should be included on t-shirts instead as it is cheaper.
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Gary Gannon said: "School uniforms can in itself give a sense of pride and place for young people and where that can be facilitated - perhaps even on a t-shirt - that should be encouraged. Jumpers can be prohibitively expensive but if you can have something like in my school we actually had grey t-shirts with the school crest on them.
"That made things a lot cheaper. I have no issue with school crests in and of themselves but the school jumper can be prohibitively expensive and the jacket that can go with it."
Deputy Gannon was also in support of school's hosting second hand uniform sales. He said: "Absolutely, I think whatever can be done to lower the cost of going back to education should be done.
"More than that, the Government themselves should increase the back to school allowance. But more than that, the Government should give the €270 million necessary in order to have fully free education."
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