Back-to-school costs forcing more families into debt

RISING back-to-school costs are forcing an increasing number of families into debt, according to children’s charity Barnardos.

Figures released by the charity yesterday, showed that government schemes designed to assist in covering back-to-school costs are not reflective of the true price of sending a child to school.

They show the number of children benefiting from the Government Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme (BSCFA) has increased from 161,000 in 2006 to over 180,000 last year. Spending has more than doubled from €16.7 million in 2004 to a predicted €46 million this year.

The means-tested payment is intended for those on social welfare and in low-paid jobs, including those on community employment.

However, Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay pointed out that the BSCFA payment does not reflect the true costs of uniforms and footwear.

“Uniforms are expensive, with individual pinafores and skirts costing up to €90 each. This puts real pressure on parents. The BSFCA is aimed at families in need, yet the income guidelines governing eligibility results in some families in low-paid employment, particularly lone parent families, being ineligible,” he said.

This is due to income thresholds being different between two-parent families and those with a lone parent and also because the BSFCA income guidelines are less than those applicable to the Family Income Supplement (FIS).

The current rates for the BSFCA are €200 for children aged between two and 11 years old and €305 for children aged 12 to 22.

However, a survey carried out by Barnardos showed that the actual back-to-school costs for such children is often more than treble this amount.

Mr Finlay added that because there is currently no national schoolbook-rental scheme in Ireland, parents have to pay more than €100 for books for primary school children and €300 on secondary school books.

There is a school book grant scheme in operation in some disadvantaged schools. However, the application for funding and its distribution is at the sole discretion of boards of management and the school principal.

The Barnardos chief executive called for the income limits of the BSFCA to be made the same as those applicable to the FIS and for the same limits to apply to all households regardless of whether they are two-parent or lone-parent families.

“It is unacceptable that the statutory supports available to assist parents in need with the costs of sending their children back to school is exclusionary of some families and difficult to access,” said Mr Finlay.

Barnardos also called for a national schoolbook-rental scheme to give children the best start to their education.