While she insists she is simply not in a position to invest the recently suggested €100 million, she does recognise the need for further investment in education and intends to argue the point during budget negotiations.
In addition to promoting further funding, the Minister intends to encourage schools away from the use of branded uniforms in an effort to lower expenditure for thousands of Irish families - an endeavour which MummyPages has wholeheartedly supported through our Can the Crest campaign.
With 94% of primary schools and 68% of secondary schools using and promoting book rental schemes, Minister O' Sullivan says she considers this an area in need of further focus.
Shining a spotlight on the repercussions of the considerable financial strain experienced by thousands in the run-up to the new school year, Aine Lynch, CEO of the National Parents Council, insists removing costs will allow parents and children to become fully engaged with the education system.
With a considerable number of Irish parents facing debt as a result of back-to-school costs, Ms. Lynch asserts that a parent's relationship with their child's school has now become a financial-based one.
Reinforcing this, a recent MummyPages survey revealed that 89% of mums feeling an increased pressure at the prospect of back-to-school expenditure, with 91% asserting they would welcome a phased payment system throughout the year to incorporate the voluntary contribution, schools books and book rental scheme fees.
