Govt. needs education on ever-rising back-to-school costs
- Bill Tyson
- Aug 11
- 5 min read
"When school starts I’ve paid over a thousand euro for everything. But then in the first few weeks, letters sent home asking for €20 for a locker, €20 for a lock, €25 for insurance. It just never ends."
This comment by one parent sums up what many families feel as they prepare to send kids back to school in a few weeks’ time.
They are in the firing line of a worsening cost-of-living crisis, new surveys from Barnardo and the Irish League of Credit Unions showed.
Free text books are now available to all schoolchildren while hot meals were extended this year to include to all primary schools.
Meanwhile, the grant paid per pupil to run our schools has gone up 12% to €224 per year.
But that’s a very low figure to pay annually for running our schools, as heating, cleaning, maintenance, insurance and many other costs continue to soar (see Consumer Eye).
And parents are who already are in the eye of a looming cost-of-living storm are being asked to meet the shortfall, while many other school costs continue to spiral despite the new benefits.
Here’s what’s in store – and how to deal with it.
Barnardos Back to School Survey August 2025
(Not-so) voluntary contribution
"Why is the government not funding schools properly so (the) cost is not put on to parents?" one primary school parent asked Bernardo’s in its Back to School Survey.
The State is constitutionally obliged to provide free primary school education, but fast-rising costs of running a school leaves a shortfall with parents having to pick up the tab with a “voluntary contribution” that is really a stealth tax (see Consumer Eye).
“There’s a lot of pressure on parents particularly if you're trying to join the school,” says David Malone, CEO of the ILCU.
Barnardos' study this week also showed a similar story with voluntary contributions remaining fairly static despite the increase in school grants that clearly barely kept pace with rising costs.
It called for an increase in the schools ‘capitation' grant, which hasn’t even gone back to 2010 levels after inflation, to match school running costs and for the State to ‘end voluntary contributions’ altogether.
Otherwise it called for:
A voluntary contribution code of practice so all schools publish where the funds go.
Continued access for school essentials such as lockers, journals and book rental schemes to parents who can’t pay voluntary contributions.
Follow up or reminders for the payment never to be sent home through a child.
Lists of parents who have and have not paid voluntary contributions must be kept anonymised.
Digital distress
"Principal told the child's class that the money saved by free books, they can now spend on a laptop. Absolutely tone deaf", one secondary school parent told the Barnardos study.
Another said: "My son is going into 5th year, this was the first time we were entitled to free schoolbooks, but then we were called to a meeting in the school where they advised that we would have to buy a Chromebook (laptop) for our child which cost €500. So…if anything the cost has gone up."
“No parent should face financial hardship as a result of these costs,” Barnardos said. “The Department of Education must further investigate the use of these devices across schools, how many mandate expensive items, and explore piloting a digital tools fund for low income parents.”
As schools migrate to digital tools instead of books another obvious answer (that will doubtlessly be ignored) is that tablets should be provided as part of the ‘free books’ scheme as they are in many other countries.
Uniform needs
"She needs a tracksuit…cannot buy bottoms separate…must come as package. Blouse is an extortionate price and cannot be sourced in local shop. She needs multiple skirts/jumpers, and a coat that is not suitable for autumn/spring," one frustrated Secondary School Parent told the Barnardo’s survey.
When it comes to uniforms, neither schools nor the Government are doing enough to ease the pressure on parents, says Barnardos.
Uniform costs remain stubbornly high at €199 (secondary) and €125 (primary) per student.
“This is despite the 2017 Department of Education Circular that schools should reduce the costs associated with uniforms by opting for iron or sew on crests on school uniforms and wherever possible, requiring generic rather than branded items, including uniforms,” Barnardos states.
“The Department of Education’s circular on affordable uniforms is not being enforced. The Department should introduce an affordable uniform charter for schools to sign up to that would amalgamate and build on existing best practice and sustainable programmes, helping schools learn from each other.”
However, some schools are “taking progressive action to reduce cost and financial pressure on parents.
And parents could encourage others to follow their lead.
One parent told Barnardos how her child’s school “organises second hand uniform sales twice a year, encouraging parents to reduce their costs considerably. This year there were more parents highlighting their school doing swap schemes or second-hand pop-up shops which made a big difference.”
Another said: "Our school did (organised) a uniform swap shop and I got my child's full uniform for free. This was a huge savings for us".
Stationary fees moving fast
“Photocopy and stationary fees started at €40 three years ago and are now €75 despite being able to obtain these items for much less myself ", one exasperated primary school parent told Barnardos.
Her experience highlights how the benefits of free schoolbooks are being eroded by rapid rises in other related costs.
Barnardos said free schoolbooks “has made a real difference to families” but many schools seem to be gradually replacing book bills with new and ever-rising alternative ones for "classroom resources.”
Its 2025 report showed that 76% of primary and 68% of secondary school parents had to contribute towards classroom resources - €74 for secondary and €51 for primary students.
Pricey tours
"He is going to miss out on the fun tours due to crazy prices," said one secondary school parent, commenting on the cost of school trips.
Many parents mentioned having to pay for school tours and additional extra-curricular activities in school for their children.
They highlighted that these costs could come up suddenly and need to be paid almost immediately, Barnardos reports.
Tips*
Audit what you have
Before shopping, take stock of uniforms, stationery, books, and other items you already have to avoid unnecessary spending.
Plan and budget carefully
Create a detailed list of essentials, set a realistic budget, and stick to it.
Shop strategically
Look out for special offers, bulk deals, sales, and consider second-hand options for uniforms and textbooks.
Engage with school and community initiatives
Participate or help organise in local book or uniform swaps and community exchanges.
Involve children in budgeting
Discuss budgeting openly with your children to foster responsible financial habits from an early age.
Avoid high-interest loans
Avoid expensive borrowing from credit cards or moneylenders, Credit union aim to help.
*From the Irish League of Credit Unions
Back to school allowance
Over €8m earmarked to help parents meet clothing and footwear costs was unclaimed last year, new figures from the Department of Social Protection showed this week.
Applications for the 2025 scheme opened last month with 126,000 automatically qualifying for payments totalling €47.5m.
If you’re in receipt of certain social welfare payments you automatically get it.
But many families on low incomes may be missing out because they have to make a claim.
This year’s qualifying income limit is €36,088.
Barnardos called on the Government to increase the income limits so more families can qualify for this under-claimed grant.
The deadline for claiming the allowance is September 30.
Weekly income limits for BSCFA in 2025
*Children aged between 18-22 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school in the autumn of 2025.
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