Benefit of Free Schoolbooks "Wiped Out" as Families Hit With €750 iPad Bills, Says Meath TD - 07/05/2026

This morning on The Agenda we discsussed the growing debate around the cost of digital devices in Irish schools. Sinn Féin’s TD for Meath-East and Education spokesperson, Darren O’Rourke, has criticised the Government’s approach to technology in classrooms, saying parents are being left with huge bills for compulsory iPads and tablets.According to Deputy O’Rourke, some families are being asked to pay as much as €750 per child for devices, despite the introduction of the free schoolbooks scheme, which was intended to reduce the overall cost of education. He says many parents are contacting his office struggling to meet the expense, particularly households with more than one child in secondary school.Deputy O’Rourke joined us to us some more about this.We also got the latest on the situation with the house in Stamullen which was earmarked for asylum seekers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.