Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Each year, parents find that back-to-school costs have increased since the previous year and are putting them under greater financial pressure. In a society where education is supposed to be free, parents find that putting even just one child through school can cost thousands of euro. Parents putting two or more children through school find the financial burden is becoming unsustainable. Many families are left in a very precarious financial position as they try to sustain the cost of their children's education over the long term. They find they have to make an increasing number of sacrifices as their children progress from primary level to secondary level, and finally to third level.

Research shows that the cost incurred in respect of children in secondary school is almost double that in respect of those in primary school. Studies carried out by Barnardos have found that many parents have had to cut back on meeting a range of costs, including the paying of some bills, to meet the cost of a child returning to school. Estimates show that in 2022, it cost €1,146 to keep a child in primary education. The highest expenditure was on transport, followed by after-school activities, school lunches and schoolbooks. In 2022, it cost an average of €1,838 to send a child to secondary school. The highest costs for a child going to secondary school include those of transport, lunches and grinds. In a cost-of-living crisis, the very least we should expect is that our children would receive a proper education without parents forgoing the payment of bills or getting into debt to cover the cost of a child's education.

Education is a fundamental right and our children need the best start in life to help them on their path. To ease the pressure on parents, the free schoolbooks scheme should be expanded to include secondary schools. I have seen the benefits of hot meals for children. They allow them to remain focused in class and get the very best out of their learning.

The cost of transport remains one of the highest in education, so it is essential that the school transport scheme be expanded to the benefit of families, who stand to make substantial savings at a time when most families are struggling financially.

Now is the time to implement these measures so parents preparing for the new school year in September will have peace of mind and less of the stress associated with sending a child back to school.

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