School uniform plea

School uniform plea

12 July 2023

SOUTH Down MLA Cathy Mason has called for the restoration of the Stormont Assembly to implement a plan to make school uniforms affordable for workers and families. 

Along with Slive Croob councillor Roísín Howell, she has been speaking with parents and families who are dreading the start of another school year given the cost of new uniforms. 

Mrs Mason said workers and families are already struggling with the rising cost of living and that paying out huge amounts for school uniforms will only add more pressure. 

Next month, a uniform swap event will be held at the Castlewellan Community Centre between 6.30pm and 8.30pm from Tuesday July 18 until Thursday July 20, to try and help alleviate some of the pressures on families. 

But Mrs Mason said more must be done to support families with rising uniform costs, highlighting the need for what she described as a “long-term solution”.

She said Sinn Féin has a plan to make school uniforms affordable and cut costs for families when back to school times comes around. 

“We need to legislate to drive down uniform costs by insisting schools have competitive tendering processes, remove requirements for expensive branded items and permit the use of cheaper high street alternatives,” Mrs Mason continued.

“We need an Executive up and running now so that we can start implement a plan to cut the costs of school uniforms.”

Speaking following the publication of the latest Irish League of Credit Unions Annual School Costs Survey, the South Down MLA said workers and families are already struggling with the cost of living, fuel costs, electricity bills and mortgage interest rates, and in the coming weeks will be faced with soaring back-to-school costs.

“This latest survey found that parents can expect to spend £837 per primary school child, a rise of £81 on last year and £989 per secondary child, an increase of £163 on last year. 

“The cost of school uniforms is the primary expense for families,” she said.