Back to School Allowance - Could this be the final nail?

[bluefish]

With Hundreds of thousands of families about to claim the annual back to School allowance this July, the Irish exchequer willl take a hit that will cost Millions.

Can the country afford it?

Or will this be the final nail in the coffin?

Unlike most benefits, the Back to school allowance has no qualifying period, it is simply based on your income.

Even if you remove the unemployed there are still thousands on short weeks, and some others who have moved into the qualified level through pay cuts.

This really could be the final nail in the Irish States coffin.

[toughbutfair]

giving some of these people money is stupid. in england, the school uniforms are subsidised so they know the child gets the benefit. how many irish just spend the money on alcohol or cigarettes?

[odie1kanobe]

A better way is to provide people with School clothing and Book Vouchers that can only be redeemed against Clothing and Books with return provided with a credit note rather than cash.

[hopi watcher]

A better way is to provide people with School clothing and Book Vouchers that can only be redeemed against Clothing and Books with return provided with a credit note rather than cash.

Just in case the needy might be tempted to mis-spend the pittance, I presume!!!

[toughbutfair]

Just in case the needy might be tempted to mis-spend the pittance, I presume!!!

If "the needy" were going to spend the money on the child - it wouldn't make a difference. It would only make a difference if they were going to drink it away.

therefore - no problem.

[MsAnneThrope]

Vouchers are a much better way of dealing with this. The posters above are correct in pointing out that a lot of the money is blown on drink, cigarettes and drugs, to name but a few.

Of course we also need to end the scam of changing or modifying the curriculum books used nearly every year, thus preventing books being handed down and/or negating any second hand resale value they may have. I know and accept that books need to be periodically updated but don't anyone try tell me that books aren't deliberately updated or changed or dropped completely, nearly every year, for the good of the children.

There are some very powerful vested interests (and I suspect a few politicians over the years too) who are benefitting immensely from this practice, at the expense of the parents trying to educate their children and the taxpayer. Geez, it's everywhere in this filthy, corrupt little country isn't it?

[MsAnneThrope]

Just another thought too. Why aren't the schools themselves bulk buying certain clothes? Take a school jumper for example. Let's say it costs each parent €40 if they buy it solo. But if the school put out tenders for say 500 of them, in a variety of standard sizes, surely they could demand a bulk discount, so the final price might be somewhere between €20-€30? Any surplus ones could be returned unopened and any special sizes could be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Even if the school isn't able or is unwilling to allocate staff to undertake this I'm sure a few parents could organise it and would welcome the opportunity to do so. All they'd need is the school's endorsement, and maybe use of school letterhead/logo when requesting tenders. Why do I get the impression a few organisations in Ireland wouldn't like any of this to happen?

[reknaw]

If we had a proper educational system, there would be no need for that kind of allowance. It always depressed me to be around my siblings in September, when they had to fork out a fortune for schoolbooks.

I was fortunate that my kids grew up in one of the Nordic countries where there are no school fees, all textbooks, copybooks, and even rulers and pencils are provided by the municipality, along with a hot school meal each day. OK, the taxes are high there, but aren't they in Ireland as well? Especially if you allow how much we have to pay extra for things that are free of charge elsewhere.

As for school uniforms, there were/are none. If there were, they would have to be free of charge under the constitution, just like schoolbooks.

The present system in Ireland is just another way in which the people are being humped crossways.

[cactusflower]

Vouchers are a much better way of dealing with this. The posters above are correct in pointing out that a lot of the money is blown on drink, cigarettes and drugs, to name but a few.

Of course we also need to end the scam of changing or modifying the curriculum books used nearly every year, thus preventing books being handed down and/or negating any second hand resale value they may have. I know and accept that books need to be periodically updated but don't anyone try tell me that books aren't deliberately updated or changed or dropped completely, nearly every year, for the good of the children.

There are some very powerful vested interests (and I suspect a few politicians over the years too) who are benefitting immensely from this practice, at the expense of the parents trying to educate their children and the taxpayer. Geez, it's everywhere in this filthy, corrupt little country isn't it?

Seconded. I've posted about this too. Parents need to form a group and refuse to change text books. I went to a school in which the school bought the books and you only had to pay for it if it wasn't in good condition when returned at the end of the year.

There is no excuse for changing text books if the curriculum hasn't changed and there is no reason for having more than one text book for each course.

Putting 3 years work into one book is another scam - too heavy and less likely to be able to be passed on.

School uniforms must be another scam. The quality is shockingly poor and they are overpriced.

Blaming low income families for the gouging that goes on at the beginning of the school year is the pits!

[toughbutfair]

I'd go a step further and say the dept of education should say this is the maths book for the leaving , for example, that way brothers and sisters in different schools could also hand down all books.

I disagree about the uniforms though - i think they remove the pressure to wear the latest trendy clothes and probably save money as a result. My sister in england pays about six pounds per jumper. why can't we do that?

I never like examples of how great the nordic countries are as they have loads of oil off Norway so can afford these things.