Rise in 'working poor' with 70% of secondary school parents worried about costs

Free schoolbooks have been rolled out at primary level, and the scheme is due to come into force at junior cycle level from this term — which aims to reduce the financial burden on parents.

More families are becoming part of the "working poor", as new figures reveal that 70% of secondary school parents are worried about meeting costs this year.

Parents will be forking out an average of €119 on primary school uniforms ahead of September, while the cost jumps to €211 for pupils in secondary school.

The results, which are contained in the Barnardos Back to School Survey 2024, show that a quarter of secondary parents and almost one in five of those with children in primary school will be forced to use savings to pay for uniforms, stationary, and other items.

Just over half of primary school parents are concerned about back-to-school costs, while just 30% of secondary school parents say that costs were manageable.

Thelma Carthy, a parent of two secondary school students, said: "We both work full-time and, overall,  costs of everything is very worrying. 

There is no help at all given because we work

"I feel we are now part of this new class — the working poor."

Some 21% of secondary school parents said they had to take a loan out or borrow from friends to meet school costs.

Free schoolbooks have been rolled out at primary level, and the scheme is due to come into force at junior cycle level from this term — which aims to reduce the financial burden on parents.

However, 39% of secondary school parents who have to purchase digital devices for their children stated they had to pay over €300 for those digital costs.

Voluntary contributions also add to the amount parents spend, with 78% of primary school parents and 80% of secondary parents surveyed stating that their schools request a payment at the start of the school year.

Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly said too many parents are still struggling every summer to cover back-to-school costs. Picture: Mark Stedman

When asked, 62% of primary school parents and 66% of secondary school parents said that it did not feel voluntary.

Meanwhile, parents also feel under pressure to pay for extracurricular activities — with some of those who responded highlighting the guilt they feel when they cannot afford school tours or trips.

Some 96% of secondary and 99% of primary school parents said they were asked to pay additional sums for school tours and trips. On average, this was €151 for secondary and €65 for primary school. 

However, a quarter of secondary school parents said they have to spend over €300 on school tours and trips.

Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly welcomed the "positive reforms" implemented by the Government over the past two years, particularly around the schoolbook scheme.

However, she said too many parents are still struggling every summer to cover back-to-school costs, experiencing considerable financial difficulties as a result.

"Now is the time for the Government to continue introducing more measures to alleviate financial stress on parents, and to compel schools to do more to keep back-to-school costs at an affordable level," she said.

Barnardos received over 900 responses as part of this year's survey, which represents the costs associated with 500 primary school pupils and 410 secondary school students.