Parents sending their children to secondary school for the first time this autumn are facing potential costs of over €1,300 per student for items such as school uniforms, books and voluntary contributions, according to a Labour Party survey launched yesterday.
The survey of specialist retailers, high street stores and parents, conducted over the past few weeks, also reveals that the average equivalent cost of kitting out primary-level children in items such as school coats, shoes and uniforms can be as high as €823.
But it indicates that where a school does not require specialised school items - for example, uniforms with a school logo - the costs to parents are generally less expensive. The Combat Poverty Agency has previously called for standardised school uniforms to be made more readily available in major retail outlets nationwide.
At primary level, the average cost of specialised clothing such as school uniforms, sportswear and footwear is €413, compared to €310 for non-specialised clothing. Among the other general costs, those shared at primary level are up to €115 for books, €70 for a voluntary contribution, €100 on administrative costs and €125 for workbooks and stationery.
Similarly, the overall cost of sending a child to a secondary school that requires specialised items of clothing and footwear can be up to €1,335, compared to €1,215 for non-specialised items
Again, the difference in cost is explained by higher clothing and footwear expenses - some €535 compared to €412 - in schools requiring specialised items.
Some of the other general costs faced by second-level parents are €460 for books, €115 for a voluntary contribution, €100 for administration expenses and €125 for workbooks and stationery.
The Labour Party's education spokeswoman, Jan O'Sullivan, yesterday said the figure for second level related to parents sending a child into first year at secondary school.
While she acknowledged that not every student would cost this much every year, with some also availing of "hand-me-downs", she pointed out that significant costs existed for parents throughout second level, in particular during exam years.
She said the cost of school books in particular has risen over the past year. This highlighted the need for the Department of Education to promote greater use of book rental schemes and to encourage the merging of textbooks for several years of schools into one volume.
The current situation exposed "the myth of free education," she added.
The Labour Party has estimated that some €20 million in funding would allow for a range of extra measures to alleviate the financial burden of sending a child to school.
These include revising upwards the income limits and amounts paid under the back-to-school clothing allowance, a special once-off €400 grant for qualifying families for each child starting secondary school and an increase in the funding for the purchase of school books and book rentals.
However, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan yesterday claimed the party's proposals were "more about getting Labour back into Government then they are about helping children back to school".
LABOUR SURVEY: Back-to-school costs
Primary school with specialised school uniforms:
Clothing and footwear: €163 is for a school uniform and €120 for shoes/coat€413
Books€115
Voluntary contribution€70
Administration costs€100
Workbooks/stationery €125
Total €823
Primary school with non-specialised uniforms:
Clothing and footwear: €120 is for a school uniform and €90 for shoes/coat€310
Books€115
Voluntary contribution€70
Administration costs€100
Workbooks/stationery€125
Total€720
Post-primary with specialised uniforms:
Clothing and footwear: €245 for school uniform and €150 for shoes/coat.€535
Books€460
Voluntary contribution€115
Administrative costs€100
Workbooks/stationery€125
Total: €1,335
Post-primary without specialised uniforms:
Clothing and footwear: €182 for school uniform and €110 for shoes/coat.€412
Books€460
Voluntary contribution€115
Administrative costs€100
Workbooks/stationery€125
Total:€1,212
• According to the Labour Party, the figures at primary level are average potential costs for all students. The figures at second level are the potential costs for students entering first year this autumn.