Labour demands action as parents forced into debt for back to school costs
Labour demands action as parents forced into debt for back to school costs - The Labour Party
- More than 1 in 4 parents expect to borrow money to cover back to school costs
- Labour will use Dáil time this Wednesday at 10am to force action on the growing digital divide and hidden education costs.
Labour Education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD has said the latest research from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) showing more than one in four parents expect to borrow money to cover the cost of sending their children back to school is further evidence that Government is failing to make education genuinely free. Ahead of Labour’s Dáil motion tomorrow morning to tackle soaring back to school costs and the growing digital divide, Deputy Kenny called on TDs across the House to support practical measures that would stop families being forced into debt to fund their children’s education.
Deputy Eoghan Kenny said:
“The new research from the ILCU is deeply distressing. While children are enjoying their summer holidays, thousands of parents are already worrying about how they will afford the cost of sending them back to school. The fact that more than one in four parents now expect to borrow money, with the average loan reaching €430, shows just how much pressure families are under.
“Government cannot claim to believe in equal opportunities while allowing a child’s education to depend on whether their parents can afford a €430 laptop. That is exactly what is happening in schools across Ireland today. More and more families are being told they must purchase expensive digital devices because they have become essential for classroom learning.
“Government will point to the expansion of hot school meals and the Free Schoolbooks Scheme, and Labour has welcomed both measures. But those gains are increasingly being cancelled out by a growing list of costs. Parents are still paying school transport charges, State Examination Fees, so-called voluntary contributions and, increasingly, hundreds of euro for laptops and tablets. Families are being squeezed and Government cannot continue to ignore the reality facing parents every September.
“That is why Labour is bringing forward practical solutions to the Dáil. We are calling for enforceable rules on school laptop requirements, the restoration of the ICT Grant and the introduction of a national device loan scheme so that no child misses out because their family cannot afford the cost of technology.
“This is about the kind of education system we want. Government has a clear choice when Labour’s motion comes before the Dáil. It can continue to allow hidden costs to widen inequality in our classrooms, or it can back practical measures that make education genuinely free. I am calling on TDs from every party to support Labour’s motion in the Dáil tomorrow.”
Motion re: Digital Divide and Back to School Costs
That Dáil Éireann –
notes that:
- research by the ESRI and the University of Limerick from a survey of more than 720 post-primary schools showed that more than three in ten mandated the purchase of digital devices, including 17% of DEIS schools, and that there is a risk of growing inequalities in the education system;
- the Barnardos Back to School 2025 survey report showed the average cost of digital devices for second level schools has reached €430, up from €121 in 2022;
- since 2015 SVP has received nearly 3,000 requests for assistance with educational digital devices;
- savings to parents from the Free Book scheme are now being undermined by requests for mandatory ICT equipment that is more and more essential for school work;
- the ICT Grant for schools was cut by €15m, to €35m in 2025, remained at €35m in 2026 and there is no dedicated funding for repair or maintenance;
- manufactures have warned that the shortage of memory chips will lead to significant price increases for laptops and tablets;
further notes on school costs that:
- The Zurich 2026 Cost of Education survey shows an annual cost to parents of €1,794 for primary school and €2,928 for secondary school, and that the number of parents taking out loans to help with costs doubled from 2025 to 2026;
- Budget 2026 discontinued the two double child benefit payments, removed energy credits, the €400 once off working family payment, and the once off family support €100 lump sum per qualifying child;
- State Examination Fees have been reimposed on Junior and Leaving Certificate students;
- School Transport Fees have increased to €100 per child with the family cap increasing by €95 to €220, the fee for primary school children doubled from €50, and increased by a third, €25, for post-primary students;
- the increased cost of energy, insurance, waste and other essential services are not being met from the capitation grant leaving schools reliant on voluntary donations;
- at least 47 schools have been referred to the Financial Support Services Unit of the Department of Education in the 2025/2026 school year, due to rising costs, an increase of 38% on last year;
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance has been extended to 2 and 3 year olds but the €100 cut in the rate in 2024 has never been restored, and the income thresholds remain very restrictive;
- parents are provided with no support for other substantial costs including mock exam and correction fees, school trips and tours, after-school and summer extracurricular activities and camps, and students in transition year have additional expenses above normal year to year costs;
- the 2017 circular on affordable uniforms is not being enforced, with large numbers still using crested or branded uniforms rather than generic uniform items;
recalls that:
- the Minister has written to all schools noting that they cannot make it mandatory for pupils to purchase laptops or tablets but there is no enforcement of this guidance;
- there is still no ban on voluntary contributions forcing parents to have to fund essential school activities;
- the introduction of new curriculums for Leaving Certificate subjects has imposed further extra costs on post-primary schools;
calls on the government to:
- address the growing inequality from the digital divide and ensure all children have access to digital technology in school at no additional cost to parents;
- introduce enforceable guidelines for schools on the requirement for laptops and tablets in school work that protects families from the costs of having to buy digital equipment;
- restore the school ICT grant to at least €50 million, and ensure there is a separate stream of funding for the maintenance and repair of equipment;
- ensure students have access to a national loan scheme when laptops or tablets are required for school project work;
- remove State Examination Fees, and reverse the increases to School Transport Fees;
- restore the €100 cut to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and expand income thresholds to increase eligibility and ensure more working families qualify;
- ban voluntary contributions and ensure that school capitation rates are increased in Budget 2027 to meet the actual costs of running a school;
- mandate schools to use non-branded uniform clothing and ensure that parents have a choice of supplier to ensure competition on costs.