Back to school blues: ‘Families can’t afford financial blow’ says Kilkenny TD

With just weeks to go before students return to school, a Kilkenny TD has said families are finding the financial burden hard to manage.

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan was speaking after a national report by Barnardos that revealed half of all primary school parents and 60% parents with children at secondary school say they are worried about meeting back to school costs.
Only one third of secondary school parents said costs would be manageable.

This is despite the introduction of free school books for primary school in the 2023 budget, expanding to all students in last year’s budget.

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Capitation grants, to primary and secondary schools, have also been expanded in recent years, as has the eligibility for the free hot school meals scheme.

Deputy Newsome Drennan said the latest report from Barnardos, yet again lays bare the need for a cost-of-living package in this year’s budget.

She said the report must act as a wakeup call for government who remain oblivious to the huge stress and hardship facing workers and families across the state.

“The report outlines that back-to-schools costs often reach up to €1,100 for secondary school and €725 for primary school students. Families are already struggling to keep their heads above water as the cost-of-living crisis continues to spiral out of control, people simply cannot afford this annual financial blow,” the TD said.

“As the reports detailing the level of financial pressure on ordinary workers and families stack up, so too do the excuses from government as to why they won’t offer support.

“The children’s ombudsman confirmed to an Oireachtas committee in recent weeks that child poverty has doubled in the last year.

“This latest Barnardos report tells us that over half of parents of schoolchildren are worried about back-to-school costs. Parents are particularly concerned about the costs of uniforms, voluntary contributions and for secondary school parents the increasing cost of digital devices.

“Parents are forced to use savings, take out loans, and cut back on other essentials to cover the costs. A shocking 27% of secondary and 14% primary school parents said they had to use savings, while 15% and 8%, respectively, had to take out a loan or borrow from family and friends.

“One secondary school parent outlined in the survey that they will not pay their gas and electric bill in August and will take out a loan and use instalments. They said ‘I will go into debt until March the following year until it’s all paid back, then it repeats again in August. My worries are if I can keep this up year after year’.

“It does not have to be this way. At a time when the state has record surpluses of €23.7 billion, to have families being pushed to the brink to cover basic back-to-school costs is scandalous,” said Deputy Newsome Drennan.

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Meanwhile, Barnardos has made it’s own demands of government.
“It is important the Government continues the positive momentum and builds on recent actions to provide a truly free education.
“Barnardos calls on the government to prioritise these steps:
“Expand eligibility to back to school allowance.
“Continue to increase capitation rate to reduce reliance on voluntary contributions and introduce a voluntary fund code of practice.
“Reduce the cost of digital devices schools placed on parents.
“Continue to promote affordable uniform options.”