Around 62% of parents in Ireland find the financial demands of back-to-school costs burdensome, as reported in a recent survey conducted by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU). A percentage of these parents, about 25%, find themselves spiralling into debt to fulfill their children’s school necessities ahead of the forthcoming academic year.
This annual study by the ILCU indicates a struggle suffered by nearly half of the participating parents to manage these expenses, with many compelled to halt or diminish non-essential expenditures to settle school bills.
Figures from 2024 revealed that parents spent an average of €1,086 per primary school child and €1,401 per secondary school child on back-to-school necessities. This indicates an escalated expenditure of €113 for secondary school parents from the previous year, but a decline of €66 for primary school parents.
An increase in the number of schools participating in the hot meals programme, alongside the introduction of Free School Books scheme in the 2023-2024 academic year, contributed to the downward trend in expenditure in primary schooling.
Strikingly, 56% of respondents identified elevated food prices as a leading factor intensifying back-to-school costs, closely followed by the ascending cost of new uniforms and school-related activities. The survey also divulged that over half of the parents felt obliged to purchase branded commodities for their children, increasing by 11% from 2021.
In response to these findings, David Malone, CEO of ILCU, acknowledged the partial success of government initiatives in mitigating the financial load for some families but emphasized the persistent financial struggle related to education costs and cost of living for many parents.
The data revealed a rise in school-associated debt, as 28% of parents used credit to meet back-to-school expenses, averaging a debt of €368, a jump of €62 from the previous year. “The debt issue cannot be overlooked,” Mr Malone stated. Particularly notable was that 32% of indebted parents owed over €500 to cover these expenditures.
The study carried out by i-Reach in June 2024 revealed that there has been a significant impact on the financial situation of parents with school-aged children due to inflated living costs. The survey elicited responses from 716 parents, out of which 86% reported experiencing a change in their income or household expenses. Among this affected group, grocery prices caused heightened expenditure for 91%, while 89% noted increased charges on utility bills.