<p>
	Barnardos children&rsquo;s charity has estimated that it would cost &euro;103 million to give every child in Ireland a totally free primary education.</p>
<p>
	While there is currently no direct charge for children to attend primary school in Ireland, there are a number of additional costs for school books, transportation, stationary and voluntary contributions.</p>
<p>
	The charity has highlighted the fact that there are no national guidelines for how much these additional costs should be and they vary depending on the school a child attends.</p>
<p>
	These additional costs are said to most impact on the children of lower-income parents.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	<strong>How much is needed?</strong></p>
<p>
	&ldquo;Every year we hear from parents forced to make impossible choices in order to fund their child&rsquo;s education,&rdquo; said June Tinsley, head of advocacy with Barnardos.</p>
<p>
	The charity is calling for around &euro;103.2 million in this year&rsquo;s Budget and around &euro;126.9 million to be committed within three years to fund secondary education.</p>
<p>
	Speaking about the projection by the charity, its CEO, Fergus Finlay, said, &ldquo;The impact of an inclusive, supportive education system reaches far beyond school gates.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	It means all children, regardless of their background, are given the same opportunity to learn and thrive.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	<strong>How does the sum break down?</strong></p>
<p>
	The charity has costed their proposals by looking at the different areas that parents are currently required to make payments to. They estimate that the sum of &euro;103.2 million would be coming out of Budget 2016 of around &euro;1.2 billion.</p>
<p>
	The biggest hit to the Exchequer would be the elimination of voluntary contributions, at a cost of &euro;42 million.</p>
<p>
	The cost of school books would be around &euro;20 million, free classroom resources would be around &euro;19.5 million, and restoring the capitation grant level would cost around &euro;16.7 million.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/primary-education-million-free-money-improvement-national-schools-2162201-Jun2015/">http://www.thejournal.ie/primary-education-million-free-money-improvement-national-schools-2162201-Jun2015/</a></p>
