Making free education a reality, increasing special needs resources, free school transport, tackling educational disadvantage, and addressing pay inequality. Senator Rose Conway-Walsh has stated that these are Sinn Féin’s priorities to transform our education system into one that equips all of our children and young people for life and allows them to pursue their dreams and goals without barriers.
Our first steps include:
- Introducing a €140 Back to School Bonus Child Benefit Payment for every child paid at the start of July, providing free books, and making uniforms affordable.
- Reducing waiting times for assessments and resourcing supports for students with special educational needs, including proper access to therapies.
- Reducing costs for families by introducing free travel for the under 18s on all public transport and the School Transport Scheme.
- Increasing funding for the DEIS scheme by 20%, enabling approximately 200 additional schools to avail of supports
- Better pay, terms and conditions for SNAs and school secretaries, as well as fast-tracking the end of two-tier pay structures for teachers.
In Government, Sinn Féin will progress us towards a new spectrum of education that is fair, equal and affordable for all.
Read the Sinn Féin Manifesto for Change: “Giving workers & families a break”
