“Free education should mean free education”

People Before Profit councillor Hazel De Nortúin has called for an end to the growing cost of digital devices and other school expenses being pushed onto parents, saying a child’s access to education should never depend on their family’s ability to pay.

Cllr De Nortúin, who has three children in school, has herself been asked to purchase a new digital device for one of her children as they begin senior cycle in secondary school.

The device recommended to senior cycle students at the school De Nortúin’s children attend costs €513.

Parents who cannot afford to pay upfront can take up a 36-month credit arrangement.

Under the payment option seen by Cllr De Nortúin, the total amount repayable rises to €658.97, including €146 in fees.

Cllr De Nortúin said: “Back to school is already one of the most expensive times of the year for families.

“There are uniforms, bags, school trips and all the other costs that come with September.

“Now hundreds of euro for digital devices are being added to that list.

“One parent I spoke to has three children who have been asked to buy tablets for school.

“This means €1,500 to €2,000 extra spending on school on the shoulders of one family.

“It’s outrageous and what is worse is that there’s no clarity on what happens when parents can’t afford to pay. Does their child go without and end up excluded from part of their education? Are they singled out and noticed by peers who have the devices?”

Barnardos’ 2026 Back to School Survey found that 57% of secondary school parents were required to pay for digital devices, at an average cost of €447.

Separate Barnardos research found that 44% of parents had skipped meals or reduced portion sizes so their children would have enough to eat.

Cllr De Nortúin said People Before Profit believes education should be genuinely free, with the State providing the books, equipment and technology children need to participate fully in school.

“If a child needs a device to do their schoolwork, access assignments or use platforms like Microsoft Teams, then that device should be provided by the State.

“We should not have a situation where the underfunding of education shifts costs onto parents. We definitely should not be seeing private, for-profit companies brought in to sell or finance essential educational equipment. A child’s education should never depend on what their parents can afford.

“I’ve already heard stories of families turning to moneylenders to meet back-to-school costs. People should not be pushed into debt or insecure financial situations to send their kids to school.”

Cllr De Nortúin said the growth of digital costs was particularly frustrating following the introduction of free schoolbooks.

“Free schoolbooks were a positive step forward and hard won after years of campaigning by parents, teachers and civil society groups. It’s a step backwards to put the cost of new digital devices onto those same parents just as they are beginning to feel relief. Education is free in name only when families are expected to find hundreds, or even thousands of Euros for things their children need to participate.”

Cllr De Nortúin said she will be reaching out to other parents and campaigning on the issue, linking the cost of education to the wider pressure families are facing from food, energy, fuel, housing and other household costs.

She encouraged parents and families to join the Affordable Ireland Campaign pre-Budget demonstration at 1pm on Saturday 19th September in Dublin city centre.

She said “Families are being squeezed from every direction. We need a Budget that actually brings down the cost of living and takes these pressures off people. We need thousands out on September 19th to put pressure on the Government before the Budget.”