WHAT THE PARTIES SAY ON SCHOOL COSTS

FINE GAEL: Fine Gael has pledged free school books for all and free primary education. However, since that promise was first made in 1937, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

FIANNA FÁIL: ‘Fianna Fail is committed to free education for all. The current practice of schools being maintained by voluntary grants is inequitable and not conducive to an efficiently functioning school system. Parents are being expected to make up the shortfall, regardless of whether they can afford a voluntary contribution or not.’

SINN FÉIN: ‘Free education is little more than a fantasy. The cost of sending a child to school is around €70,000.’ Sinn Féin wants ‘free education’ and an end to ‘voluntary contributions from parents’.

LABOUR wants all education including books to be free with a ban on voluntary contributions. ‘Books are free in Northern Ireland. That’s what we want introduced here,’ said education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.