Back to school debts soar

Amid the rising cost of uniforms and books, parents turn to money lenders

A MAJOR survey has found that back to school costs are spiralling with the price of books, uniforms and other essentials rising.

The average overall cost of preparing a child for a year in primary school is now €1,000. And parents of children at secondary school have to fork out an eye-watering €1,379.

On average, parents of primary school children are faced with a deficit of €367 compared to €345 last year.

More than a third of families are now in debt due to back to school costs, with some households being forced to turn to money lenders.

A national study carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions shows that the number of families in debt due to school expenses is on the rise, increasing from 29% last year to 36% in 2018.

The cost of books for primary school pupils has risen from €107 last year to €122 this year, uniforms from €122 to €128 in the same period, while the so-called ‘voluntary contribution’ is now setting parents back €94, compared to €84 last year. Similarly, for secondary pupils, school lunches now cost €175, compared to €164 last year, uniforms have risen to €179 from €173 last year, while the voluntary contribution has rocketed from €151 last year to €172 in 2018.

Education Minister Richard Bruton has so far refused to legislate to bring in generic uniforms saying it is the responsibility of schools and parents to decide on the issue locally.

With mounting back to school costs proving overwhelming for some households, over a quarter of parents in debt are now forced to turn to a money lender.

Jim Walsh, spokesman for St Vincent de Paul, said that it is ‘very concerning’ that parents are turning to money lenders, and urged them to instead visit their local credit union to see what options are available to them.

Laura Erskine, head of community for MummyPages.ie, said that many factors contribute to high costs.

‘Our mums are telling us that it is primarily the voluntary contribution, school books and certain parts of the school uniform, such as crested PE gear, that are contributing the most expense to the cost of [going] back to school,’ she told the Irish Daily Mail.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said the Government is committed to tackling costs, stating: ‘We have issued a circular to all schools to ensure that they put a greater emphasis on reducing costs.

‘It requires schools to do everything possible to keep costs down for parents, including the use of generic items or iron-on crests.’

‘Voluntary contributions’