George Lawlor: Digital Costs Are Pushing Families to the Edge
George Lawlor addresses the Dáil on the financial strain of mandatory school digital devices and calls for urgent policy changes. He warns that rising device costs and cuts to school ICT funding are widening Ireland's digital divide and forcing families into impossible choices.
George Lawlor addressed the motion brought by Deputy Owen Kenny, arguing that poverty should not determine potential. He highlighted recent research from ESRI and the University of Limerick, evidence from Barnardo's and St Vincent de Paul, and numerous parental testimonies about the rising cost of devices now demanded by some secondary schools.
Lawlor set out the figures: three in ten secondary schools now mandate devices, average device costs have jumped dramatically, and charities are seeing thousands of requests for help. He described parents forced to choose between paying energy bills or buying a tablet so their child can participate in class, and warned that free book-scheme savings are being eroded by these new demands.
He blamed cuts to the ICT grant, lack of maintenance funding, the reintroduction of exam fees and increased transport charges for leaving schools and families underfunded. The motion calls for enforceable guidelines, proper ICT funding, a national loan scheme, removal of exam fees, reversal of transport hikes, restoration of the back-to-school allowance and a ban on de facto mandatory voluntary contributions.
Lawlor warned that, unless the government acts, the digital divide will widen into a chasm. He urged every member, government and opposition, to back the motion and stand with parents and children facing these pressures.
What he said and why it matters
George Lawlor addressed the motion brought by Deputy Owen Kenny, arguing that poverty should not determine potential. He highlighted recent research from ESRI and the University of Limerick, evidence from Barnardo's and St Vincent de Paul, and numerous parental testimonies about the rising cost of devices now demanded by some secondary schools.
Evidence and family impact
Lawlor set out the figures: three in ten secondary schools now mandate devices, average device costs have jumped dramatically, and charities are seeing thousands of requests for help. He described parents forced to choose between paying energy bills or buying a tablet so their child can participate in class, and warned that free book-scheme savings are being eroded by these new demands.
Failures of funding and the motion's demands
He blamed cuts to the ICT grant, lack of maintenance funding, the reintroduction of exam fees and increased transport charges for leaving schools and families underfunded. The motion calls for enforceable guidelines, proper ICT funding, a national loan scheme, removal of exam fees, reversal of transport hikes, restoration of the back-to-school allowance and a ban on de facto mandatory voluntary contributions.
Possible consequences and parliamentary appeal
Lawlor warned that, unless the government acts, the digital divide will widen into a chasm. He urged every member, government and opposition, to back the motion and stand with parents and children facing these pressures.
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Transcript
Cathaoirleach, Cathaoirleach, I want to commend my colleague Deputy Owen Kenny for bringing this motion to the floor of the Dáil and I think one line from his contribution this morning is the nub of everything where he says poverty should not determine potential. I think that's the key component of this motion. Cathaoirleach, what is happening to many families across this country is nothing short of unacceptable. Every year parents brace themselves for the back-to-school season and every year the financial pressure grows heavier and heavier. But now on top of books, uniforms, transport fees, exam charges and so-called voluntary contributions families are being told they must purchase digital devices costing four hundred, five hundred and sometimes even more. It is simply outrageous and it is already pushing hard-pressed households to the pin of their collar. We know the facts. The ESRI and University of Limerick found that three in ten secondary schools mandate digital devices, including 17% of DESH schools, the very schools serving families least able to absorb these costs. Barnardo's tell us that the average cost of device has skyrocketed to 430 euro which is most conservative, I think we'd all agree, up from 121 euro also conservative just a few years ago. St Vincent de Paul has received 3,000 requests to help with digital equipment since 2015. These are real families, real children who are suffering real stress. I have spoken to parents who are choosing between paying the electricity bill or buying a tablet their child must have to participate in class. Parents who are already struggling with rising rents, rising food prices, rising energy costs, now being told that without a laptop their child will fall behind. It is shameful that the state's own free book scheme savings are being wiped out by digital demands that schools have no business imposing without the proper funding. And let us be clear the government has also cut the ICT grant. It has failed to provide maintenance funding. It has reimposed exam fees, increased transport charges and left schools so underfunded that 47 of them have had to seek financial support just to keep the lights on. Meanwhile families are expected to pick up the tab. This motion is not radical it's basic fairness. We are calling for enforceable guidelines, proper ICT funding, a national loan scheme, the removal of exam fees, the reversal of transport hikes, the restoration of the back-to-school allowance and a ban on voluntary contributions that are voluntary in name only. Families, Minister, cannot take any more. The digital divide is widening and unless this government acts it will become a chasm. I urge every member, government and opposition, to support this motion and stand with parents and children who deserve so much more.