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landing every August for families who send their children to school. That bill is an ICT bill. It is a bill for a laptop. Incredibly, the Government introduced free books last year but has this year introduced what is effectively mandatory ICT at a cost that is significantly … higher than the books ever were. Many families have contacted me and outlined bills of €1,000 for a laptop. The same families came into my office and showed me second-hand laptops that they already owned but that the school principals and authorities said could

dedicated funding for repair or maintenance; and — manufacturers have warned that the shortage of memory chips will lead to significant price increases for laptops and tablets; further notes on school costs that: — The Zurich Cost of Education in Ireland 2026 survey, shows an annual cost to parents … that: — the Minister for Education and Youth has written to all schools noting that they cannot make it mandatory for pupils to purchase laptops or tablets, but there is no enforcement of this guidance; — there is still no ban on voluntary contributions forcing parents to have to fund

Labour Party is clear that free education means free. It does not mean voluntary contributions, State examination fees or €700-plus on laptops or tablets. Uniform costs are putting financial pressure on working families who, in most cases, do not qualify for the back-to-school clothing … parliamentary question to which the Minister replied, "There is no requirement currently under the new subject specifications for students to have their own laptops or devices; or devices of a particular type." This is extremely confusing for many school communities and parents who are having to bear

roll-out of free schoolbooks. That made a big difference for a lot of families. However, the increasing frequency with which laptops and tablets are being made mandatory for students is seriously undermining that progress. In many cases, the cost of ICT equipment is ending up being greater … touch with me recently to outline how more than half of her back-to-school costs for this year relate to a mandatory laptop that is going to cost over €700. Parents have been told by the school in question that these laptops will only be used

postman's knock. When they get the criteria for what is needed for their children to start the school year, those include €700 laptops, €600 iPads, tablets or something of that format as well as signing up to a Microsoft programme that has been selected. Despite your household … proper reply from the Taoiseach. We have heard the ministerial circular that went around saying that people do not have to use laptops. Every one of us knows from our own constituencies that laptops, iPads and tablets are being used regularly by order of boards of management

provided by the Department of education for schools. Having been a teacher in two schools, I recognise that these tablets and these laptops that are provided to schools break and that maintenance for them is coming out of capitation grants that cannot be fulfilled by the schools because … they are using capitation grants elsewhere. If we had a ring-fenced maintenance fund for these laptops and tablets, it would provide the necessary funding to be able to maintain them. As regards the Minister's reply, guidance to schools is not enforcement to schools. As regards providing

member of society and not have to rely on technology. Now more than ever, students are forced to rely on technology such as laptops, tablets and other devices in order to fulfil the basic requirements of their school education. If a student does not have access … exponentially in price, the last thing families need is another cost to deal with and that is the cost of these tablets or laptop devices. A study by the ESRI and the University of Limerick showed that of more than 720 schools, three in ten required the purchase

divide. The digital divide has been seen from Covid time, in particular. My own project in Ballymun, the anseo school completion programme, provided laptops and broadband. I know people still do not believe me that we provided broadband to families but we did because they did not have … families around the country. There is a growing divide even though the Minister is saying that children and young people do not need laptops. However, there is an advantage if their family can buy them one and they can continue their school work at home

staggering and are rising each year. We need to have some analysis on whether it is good for children to be using iPads, laptops and so on. The Department of education has gone all-in on so-called ed tech without much real scrutiny of whether … technology. The one issue I have with the motion is the idea that there should be a loan scheme for parents to buy laptops or iPads for their children. We are supposed to have free primary and secondary education in this country. I know we are a long

secondary school, which has such a high level of assessment, 40% in many cases, that school principals have decided that students need laptops. It is because of the new syllabus the Department has introduced. There was a very good article by the RTÉ education correspondent on this … children to be on screens. There is loads of scientific evidence that it is not good. Certainly, older children and teenagers need laptops or access to computers in order do assessments and assignments and to have a fair chance, which they do not have, in this education system

facing a stack of fees and expenses in respect of uniforms, increased school transport costs, school stationery, so-called voluntary contributions, and laptops and IT equipment. In addition, State exam fees are back. Surveys show that the total cost per school year can accumulate … motion regarding the introduction of enforceable guidelines for schools and the fact that some schools have a mandatory requirement in respect of laptops and IT equipment, it is important that these be mandated as opposed to just the subject of a letter that was sent out. We also

uniforms, books, transport and school activities. Many families are being told that they must now spend hundreds of euro on a Chromebook, laptop or other digital asset, and it is still not something that they can afford. Over recent weeks, one parent told me that their school insisted … applied consistently across Ireland, as parents deserve clarity and no young people should feel excluded from education because of the cost of a laptop

spice of trade. It keeps the price down. Alongside these pressures, parents are increasingly faced with the expectation that they provide laptops and other digital devices for their children. While technology is important, why should parents be carrying that cost? Families have benefited from the schoolbooks scheme … assist families in purchasing this expensive and necessary equipment. The point has been made earlier that they are on their laptops all day in school and then they go home and are on social media all night. It is not good for the holistic development of the children

cognitive profile do not confer eligibility for an application for an Assistive Technology grant. However, he would benefit from availing of a laptop or device in school or indeed at home. [He] should be encouraged to develop his typing skills as this will be of huge support

ours, we need to call out this myth. I acknowledge the advances made on schoolbooks but when we talk about the cost of laptops and iPads, there is no point in telling parents about the circular and the Minister saying they are not mandatory. There

contributions that we know are not voluntary. Then comes secondary school and the bills get even bigger. Parents are expected to buy Chromebooks, laptops and iPads, often designated through one supplier at inflated prices. One constituent mentioned to me that she had just paid €980 for her daughter

schools to offer guidance. I am looking at the letter. It clarifies that there is no requirement for students to have their own laptop or device for the junior or senior cycles. That is welcome. However, the Minister then says she appreciates that decisions

participate in class. Parents who are already struggling with rising rents, food prices and energy costs are 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

Minister knows, parents are paying hand over fist for ancillary school costs, be it for school uniforms, laptops, school transport or the so-called voluntary contributions. We cannot say we have free education in this country if the whole architecture that enables proper participation is hugely expensive

year. While free schoolbooks are welcome, many families now face growing costs for other items. Parents are being asked to purchase laptops that cost €400 or more, make increased payments for school transport and pay charges to cover examination fees. For hardworking families with two, three or four

Says yer man with the laptop

Education and Youth if her Department has conducted an audit of recognised post-primary schools that require students to purchase or lease a laptop or digital device; whether there is any Department regulation or policy that permits or requires schools to make the purchase of a laptop mandatory

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department’s position on the mandatory purchase and use of laptops by students at post primary level; if she is aware that schools impose late fees in some cases where the full and significant cost … laptop has not been paid within a particular timeframe; her views on whether this is acceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51729/26

Youth if her Department has undertaken any research or assessment of the financial impact on families arising from schools requiring students to purchase laptops or digital devices, including the costs of purchase, insurance, repairs and replacement; whether this has been compared with the savings arising from the free

Minister for Education and Youth the grants or financial assistance are available to assist low- and middle-income families with the purchase of laptops or digital devices where these are required by post-primary schools; if she intends to introduce such a scheme; and if she will make

asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that have informed her Department that they require one-to-one student laptops. [55010/26

Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to tackle the increasing number of schools mandating students to purchase laptops or tablets from single-vendor suppliers; if she accepts that this additional cost is placing a significant burden on families; and if she will

Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 331 and 332 of 30 June 2026, her Department's policy on the use of laptops and chromebooks in post-primary schools; whether schools may require parents to purchase a particular device where her Department does not make such devices

Question Nos. 331 and 332 of 30 June 2026, whether schools are required to follow public procurement rules when selecting a supplier of laptops or chromebooks for students; whether her Department provides guidance to schools on this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the financial supports in place to meet the cost of purchasing mandatory laptops for students at post primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51730/26