Survey shows Limerick parents spending nearly €1000 on back to school supplies
LIMERICK parents are struggling more than ever with back-to-school pressure this year due to cost of living increases.
The 2023 Barnardos’ Back to School Survey has found that parents are finding themselves under considerable financial pressure to meet costs and expressed frustration and exasperation with the high costs of books and uniforms, the large sums for digital tools and increased voluntary contribution fees they must pay.
In their survey of 1,100 parents across Ireland, Barnardos found that the average cost of the basics needed for a fourth class pupil is €320, with the cost rising to €863 for a fifth year pupil in secondary school, and €972 for a first year pupil.
Gateway to Education Limerick is a non-profit, social enterprise that provides support to families under financial pressure during each school term. Located on Wickham Street, they provide second-hand school books and uniforms for schools across the city and county.
Ann and Mary Power, two sisters who work in the shop, say that demand for second-hand school supplies is higher than ever before due to the increased cost of living.
“The students weren’t even finished in May and parents started coming in [with book lists],” Mary said. “We had one lady with twins, so she needed books for each of them. She was delighted that we could supply her with them.”
Much like a regular book store, parents can drop off their child’s book lists to the Gateway to Education shop for staff to fill. As the government now provides free school books to all primary school students under Budget 2023, most of their customers are secondary school parents.
One booklist shown to the Limerick Leader had multiple books per subject, such as work books. Not everything on book lists, such as literary texts, instruments and art supplies, can be sourced through Gateway to Education, still leaving parents with considerable costs.
School journals and lockers also add to the costs. “There are so many other little things that you don't see until you get the list,” Ann explained.
Another major source of financial stress for parents are voluntary contributions. Barnardos reported that 74% of primary and 78% of secondary school parents said that their schools requested a voluntary contribution.
These contributions are to make up the shortfall in funding from the Department of Education. Two thirds of parents surveyed by Barnardos said that it ‘didn’t feel voluntary’, and that they felt pressured into paying it by schools.
The national average amount asked for by schools was €101 for primary schools and €143 for secondary.
However, some parents in Limerick have been asked in the past for in excess of that in voluntary contributions. “I think voluntary contribution should just be called a school fee. That's what it is,” said a parent surveyed.