Six in ten parents struggle with 'back to school' costs, according to survey

Funding their children's return to school remains a challenge for a majority of parents in Leinster, with more than six out of every ten saying the associated costs put them under financial strain.

That's according to a survey which was carried out on behalf of the Irish League of Credit Unions.

Nearly a quarter -- 24% -- of Leinster parents said they were getting into debt to cover back to school costs. Of those who reported they were getting into debt, one fifth are incurring debts of up to €400 or €500.

Almost 70% of Leinster parents surveyed felt that schools don't do enough to keep 'back to school' costs down.

The school-costs survey was carried out in May of this year, and involved 895 parents of school-going children. It was commissioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) and carried out by i-Reach Insights.

Leinster parents relied the most on savings, at 41%, compared to 36% nationally. A credit union loan was the preferred choice of 2.5% of Leinster parents, while 2.5% were also turning to moneylenders, down from 6% last year.

This year's survey also revealed that 71% of Leinster parent’s now shop online for school supplies, which was the highest national average, with respondents citing convenience and better deals as the main reason.

The survey also found that the overall spend on school items was up for both primary and secondary schools this year.

The cost of sending a child to primary school this September is coming in at €1,186, up €63 on last year, while parents of secondary school children can expect to pay an average of €1,491, up from €1,467 last year.

School books once again top the list this year as the most expensive item for parents of secondary school children at €211, up from €196 last year.

For the second year, the survey also looked at the impact of, and concerns brought about by, the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has had a profound impact on families, with 70% of parents in Leinster reporting that the mental health of their household has been affected, and 41% saying that their physical health has suffered compared to the national average of 32%.

Schools were closed for a number of weeks at the start of this year, and 35% of Leinster parents think that the school calendar should be adjusted to accommodate for missed time.

While a decision on the rollout of vaccinations to school children is being considered by Government, the survey revealed that 73% of Leinster parents agree vaccinations should be offered to secondary school students and 48% agree they should be offered to primary school students.

Commenting on this year’s findings, the Irish League of Credit Unions Head of Communications, Paul Bailey, said: "Since we began carrying out our back to school research over six years ago, we have seen a steady increase in the cost of school books and uniforms.

"It now costs a staggering €1,500 to send one child to secondary school, while the cost for a primary school child is not that much cheaper at nearly €1,200.

"For parents with more than one school going child, these costs can place huge financial pressure on a family.

"If parents are unable to pay for back to school from their household income or through their savings, I would encourage them to explore cheaper forms of finance, by talking to their local credit union or bank, rather than using a credit card or going to a moneylender."