Back-to-school costs highlight need for genuinely free education, says Gannon

Gary Ibbotson 06 Jul 2022

A new study from the Irish League of Credit Unions has found that nearly 30 percent of parents are going into debt to pay back-to-school costs.

The survey found that the average cost of sending a child back to secondary school was €1,518 with 29 percent of parents going into debt compared to 24 percent in 2021.

The average debt this year is €339.

Social Democrats education spokesperson Gary Gannon says the number of families struggling to pay the back-to-school costs underscores the depths of the cost-of-living crisis.

“Back-to-school costs are a huge financial burden every year.

“But this year, in particular, high costs are putting parents under immense pressure as they struggle to pay the exorbitant costs associated with children going back to school.

“Back-to-school costs for secondary school students are now more than €1,500 while the figure for primary school is nearly €1,200. These costs are unsustainable – and unnecessary,” he says.

Deputy Gannon says more measures need to be introduced to drive down the costs on parents.

“I welcome the government’s announcement that it will increase the Back to School allowance by €100 per child – but this should have happened long ago.

“The current Back to School allowance was paid at a higher rate in 2007, 15 years ago, so it has long been woefully inadequate.

“The expansion of the School Meals programme, and the suspension of school transport costs, will also provide welcome relief for parents.

“What we need to do now is make primary and secondary school education genuinely free.

“This means ensuring parents do not have to pay so-called voluntary contributions; providing schools with adequate capitation grants and classroom resources; removing fees for school books and uniforms; and making school transport permanently free.

“Doing this would cost €236m – just 2.5pc of the overall education budget – and it would benefit every family with school-going children.

“This is a relatively small investment which would have a hugely outsized positive impact and ensure that back to school costs do not cause anxiety or plunge families into debt,” he says.

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