Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason has said all parties must continue to work together to make school uniforms affordable for all families.

Speaking after the Assembly backed a motion calling for action to be taken to address the cost of uniforms and PE gear, Cathy Mason said:

“We need to make sure that going to school is as easy as possible for every child and that means removing unnecessary barriers by making school uniforms affordable for all families.

“We cannot have a single mother having sleepless nights worrying whether she can get her daughter the expensive blazer.

“The father working extra hours to get that PE uniform, or the grandmother spending her much-needed pension on her grandson’s branded jumper.

“It is simply not acceptable at a time when many families are really hard pressed at the minute with the high cost of heating, electricity and food.

“They already struggle to make ends meet, and when the summer comes around, the cost of school uniforms really can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

“By putting all our shoulders to the wheel and working together in this Assembly, we can make school uniforms more affordable and help to keep money in the pockets of families.”