Brenda left stunned at clothing bill

GAVIN KEYES is at the exciting stage in his life of starting second-level education this week.

But like thousands of other parents around the country, his mum Brenda is finding it difficult having to meet the bill for his new uniform and school books.

While her €357 spend on books for a first-year student is not uncommon — as most textbooks used up to Junior Certificate cover the full three-year course — she was astounded at how much the cost of clothing Gavin would be.