I am genuinely shocked at what I have just read https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/exam-fees-for-the-leaving-cert-and-junior-cert-are-set-to-be-waived-this-year-41308131.html
How on earth can any government justify charging secondary school pupils to sit exams. They need these qualifications to be able to access college, university and the world of work. I know that nothing is ever free, but is paid for through taxation so we don’t ever know how much preparing the exam papers, printing them, storing them securely, distributing them ever costs.
Maybe I am naïve. When I went to school in Scotland in the 1980’s, education was free at point of receipt. The school provided the textbooks and jotters. My parents bought my uniform – navy skirt, white blouses and bought the school tie and sweatshirt from the school. My parents also bought my pencil case and contents. When it came time for me to prepare for my exams, they bought me past exam papers so I was familiar with the exam format and type of questions asked. That was it. I studied, sat my exams and there was no huge expenses. It was paid for through taxation.
As an adult living and working in Scotland, I paid my council tax monthly and received my annual bill, which included a breakdown of what my council tax had been spent on the previous year: policing, fire brigade, roads, education, refuse collection, public amenities (libraries), etc. All necessary public services that I was happy to contribute towards and in some cases benefit from.
Here in Ireland, parents are required to pay for school books, copy books, stationary, photocopying costs, exams, lockers and no doubt other things I haven’t mentioned/ thought about. I dread to think what else there could be?!
School uniforms can only be bought from school outfitters and cost a fortune. No generic navy/black/ grey skirts or trousers worn here. Some uniforms are navy but the school dress code is so prescriptive it isn’t acceptable to buy a navy skirt/ trousers from Dunnes. As far as I’m concerned it is unfair and an unnecessary cost. It stretches those families who have both parents working and the derisory Back To School Allowance paid to families on Social Welfare payments comes nowhere close to covering the cost of sending a child to school with everything that they require. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/back_to_school_clothing_and_footwear_allowance.html
In Ireland, more and more I am wondering where my taxes go? There is no council tax here and my rubbish is collected by a private company that I pay directly. After the crash in 2008, Universal Social Charge (USC) was introduced as a “temporary” tax to cover the cost of bailing out the bankers. It’s now 2022 and people are still having USC deducted from their salaries/ wages in addition to PRSI and PAYE. Where does it go?
Schools are still teaching classes in portakabins, the majority of school buildings are old and not fit for purpose before Coronavirus and the need for social distancing and good air flow/ filtration was added into the mix. It takes many years from approval for a new school building being given before any construction work starts no matter how urgently the building is needed.
There was no money spent on infrastructure at all during the Celtic Tiger as far as I’m aware. It was all about individuals making as much money as possible and stuff everyone else. That makes absolutely no sense to me. It does however explain the state of the country. Hospitals are regularly understaffed and overcrowded. Accident and Emergency departments were closed – the “solution” in my health region was to open a brand new A&E facility but not address staffing issues. Forget seeing a consultant after 5pm. Patients regulary wait in excess of 12 hours to be seen and can be days on trollies waiting to be admitted. (The exception is if you have private healthcare, you get a bed very quickly when you sign the health insurance paperwork!) I am writing from experience of days past when I could afford health insurance.
These failings can all be laid at the feet of Fianna Fail. They failed the country and couldn’t wait to jump into bed with Fine Gael after the election 2 years ago. It has given us a coalition who are happy to cosy up to vulture funds, bow down to the banks and let insurance companies royally screw over their customers. Pearse Doherty’s review of the insurance racket has been kicked into the long grass more times than I can remember.
Energy prices, fuel prices and food prices are all increasing steadily. Yesterday, Junior Finance Minister Seán Fleming said that people should “shop around” for cheaper energy prices rather than complaining. Well Ministers, I am putting you on notice that the people of Ireland will (hopefully) “shop around” come the next election and boot you out on your clueless, arrogant, out of touch arses.
