Carlow mother says daughter’s school bag often weighs up to 16 kilograms

A Carlow mother is highlighting how her daughter’s school bag weighs as much as a holiday suitcase.

Natasha O’Neill says her daughter’s school books have often weighed up to 16 kilograms in her bag.

Natasha told KCLR that the weight of school books needs to be addressed as her daughter often brings two bags to school to carry all of them.

Her comments follow Education Minister Richard Bruton’s announcement earlier this week that schools must reduce the cost of uniforms and bring in book rental schemes to ease the financial burden on parents.

Natasha says she’s more worried about the weight of school bags than any other issue.