One-in-four Irish secondary schools parents take out loans to meet back-to-school costs

Half of primary and two-thirds of secondary school parents are worried about meeting back-to-school costs this summer due to the increased cost of living in Ireland.

A new back-to-school survey from Bernados found that half of the primary school (50%) and two-thirds of secondary school parents (66%) stated they are worried about meeting costs this year, with 41% a further two-fifths of parents (41%) saying that the cost living increase made it slightly more difficult.

Parents are under considerable financial pressure to meet costs and expressed frustration and exasperation with being compelled to pay high uniform costs, large sums for digital tools and increased voluntary contribution fees, which in reality are not really 'voluntary'.

In 2023, the average cost of the basics needed for a fourth-class pupil is €320, a first-year pupil is €972, and a fifth-year pupil is €863.

One parent of a primary school child said: "It is a very difficult and stressful time. I lie awake in bed with anxiety, thinking about how we will meet the uniform needs along with the grocery bill. We both work, and we have eaten through our savings since January due to the rise in the cost of living for everything".

Barnardos Back to School Survey 2023 asked 1,100 parents about the actual cost of free education in Ireland.

The survey showed that half of the primary (50%) and two-thirds of secondary school parents (66%) are worried about meeting costs this year (14% of primary and 27% of secondary said they were very concerned).

One in four secondary school parents (24%) said they had to take out a loan or borrow from friends to meet back-to-school costs. In addition to one-third, (32%) of secondary school parents stated they had to pay over €300 for digital costs for their child.

Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connoly has called on the Irish government to take further steps to reduce parents' struggles each summer.

"Last year, the government took the welcome step of introducing free school books for all primary school children. Barnardos is calling on the government to continue this progress and extend free school books to all secondary school children to help provide a genuinely free school system for all children", she said.

Barnardos believes that no parent should face financial pressure to meet the essential costs of their children's education.

Barnardos is calling on the government to take further steps in providing free education by introducing free school books for all, ensuring all schools allow for low-cost uniforms, ending voluntary contributions and maintaining the recent increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.