Donogh O’Malley is the minister best remembered for introducing free education to Ireland back in the 1960s. However, as parents know all too well at this time of year, ‘free education’ comes with many extra costs. This year, the big one causing concern is the price of digital devices for secondary school students.

While substantial progress has been made in terms of free school books for all children, the introduction of the hot school meals programme in primary schools and a significant increase to the capitation grants from Government in the last two budgets, parents still face major financial pressures at this time of year. It’s particularly acute if you have several children in either primary or starting post-primary school.

Barnardos, which has released its annual Back to School Costs Survey report, is calling on the Government to continue the progress made recently in order to provide a “truly free education” by tackling the high costs of uniforms and digital devices. It estimates the cost of a first year entering secondary school is now €1,240, a rise from €1,113 last year. The price of sending a fourth class pupil through the school gates has fallen slightly to €675 from €725 in 2025.

The costs examined in the survey comprise uniforms, classroom resources, digital technology and voluntary contributions, as well as school tours and trips.

Cost of living

More than half of all 700 parents surveyed (60% of primary and 60% of secondary) stated that they are worried about meeting these costs. A total of 17% of primary school parents and 19% of secondary school parents said they were very concerned. Only one third (34%) of secondary school parents said costs were manageable.

“Families see the progress, but there are still worries. There are still concerns. The big thing, really, is that these costs all come at once for a lot of families,” observes Stephen Moffatt, national policy manager with Barnardos. With cost of living pressures making it harder to save and budget for back to school, it means a lot of people, particularly low-income families, have to make major compromises, borrow or go into arrears with household bills.

There just aren’t enough schools providing an affordable uniform option. An issue that continues to frustrate parents with school-going children of any age

One respondent to the survey said it was a decision “between household bills or covering school costs”. Another said: “The difficulty this year is that secondary school is so expensive. Not entitled to BTS grant so trying to scrimp and save where I can.” Just over one quarter of secondary (27%) and 21% of primary school parents said they have to use savings in order to meet back to school costs. A total of 15% of secondary and one in 10 (9%) of primary school parents said they had to take a loan out or borrow from family and friends to meet school bills.

The big headline cost this year is digital devices for secondary school students. For a first year, it is estimated to be €490, while in primary school, it is considerably less at €233.

“A substantial proportion of parents still aren’t required to pay any digital cost. So that’s about 40%. But those who are, it’s just growing. It’s getting higher and higher. There’s a huge proportion paying over €500,” says Stephen Moffatt.

The issue is complicated further, he adds, by stipulations that students must buy their devices from a specific supplier in some schools. He believes that the Government needs to look at how digital tools are being used, their importance in education and a pilot a fund to ensure the risk of some students “being further disadvantaged” by the high costs.

In line with previous years, the other big problem is the high cost of crested uniforms. For a fourth-class pupil, the survey says the cost is €123, while for a first year that jumps considerably to €230.

“There just aren’t enough schools providing an affordable uniform option,” Stephen Moffatt says, an issue that continues to frustrate parents with school-going children of any age.

A total of 79% of primary school and 94% of secondary school parents said in the survey that their children had to wear crested/branded uniforms. Only 11% of primary and 2% of secondary school parents had plain uniforms.

The children’s charity is urging the department to introduce an affordable uniform charter for schools to sign up to that builds on existing best practice and sustainable programmes, helping schools learn from each other.

“The department needs to start promoting a campaign like that, and then they need to see how they would compel all schools into having an affordable uniform option.

“We think that’s an absolute priority, and they could do that,” Stephen Moffatt emphasises.

The other issue that continues to annoy parents is the level of voluntary contributions. This year, the average amount asked for by schools was €83 for primary school parents and €128 for secondary school parents. The charity believes a code of practice needs to be introduced to govern this area and the fees need to end.

Back to School Allowance

A significant number of parents also raised the fact that there are often additional expenses during the course of the year, some of them voluntary and some of them not, related to fundraising for the school.

The children’s charity is also calling on Government to expand eligibility for the Back to School Footwear and Clothing Allowance to assist more parents.

“A lot of parents feel like they get no support for back school costs. They don’t get tax breaks. They just fail eligibility for the back school allowance.

“I do feel quite a few parents, and increasing over lasting years, feel somewhat bitter and resentful about that. They’re like, ‘we’re just missing out on this. We get no help’. So, Government could look at expanding that,” he concludes.

See barnardos.ie