Private school option appealing more to parents

A growing number of Irish parents prefer to send their children to private fee paying schools rather than place their faith in state education, a new survey released today reveals.

While parents regarded the public system as value for money, 44% preferred private schooling, particularly as their children grow older, according to the Irish Life study.

Dublin recorded the highest numbers of pro-private parents, with 25% strongly agreeing their child’s potential would be better realised than through the public system.

The study also found many families quizzed felt they could not afford to send more than one child through the third level sector at the same time.

Commenting on the figures, Irish Life’ s Karl Symes said: “In the past, people who started education savings plans did so for third level education. ”But an increasing number of parents may require finance to help their child attend private schools, and this seems especially important to parents in the years leading up to their child’s leaving certificate.“

The majority of private schools in Ireland are in Dublin, with around 15 compared with more than 20 elsewhere in the country.

In the survey, the capital recorded the highest number of pro-private parents, followed by Connacht and Ulster with 19% strongly agreeing it would maximise their child’s potential, 15% in Munster and 10% in Leinster (outside Dublin).

When it came to payment, men were more likely to hand over fees than women.

Meanwhile more than 60% of those parents quizzed had two or more children, and two thirds of these families feared they could not support more than one child through college at the same time.

Most concern was expressed by rural families, with just 20% feeling they could give adequate support.

“Parents recognise that it is expensive to send a child to third level education,” Mr Symes said.

“The best advice to parents who worry about supporting a child through college is to plan early.

“For many people the best discipline is to start saving the children’s allowance every month.

“This can grow to a substantial bursary for your child when they take their first steps toward college life.

“If a parent saves the current children’s allowance of €160, every month from their child’s 3rd birthday, it could provide a lump sum of over €50,000 by the time the child is going to college.

“However, delaying until the child’s 8th birthday would give a reduced lump sum of €27,000,” he added.