CCPC back to school costs parents’ survey report
New Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) research has highlighted some of the hidden costs of education for families in Ireland, from digital devices to PE kits.
As the summer holidays begin, a survey of 1,202 parents and guardians of primary and secondary school children has revealed the back-to-school costs facing families across the country.
Voluntary contributions
- 84% of parents are requested to pay financial contributions to their children’s schools – this excludes standard fees in fee paying schools
- The average value of the contribution requested is €167 (€211 in secondary schools and €129 in primary)
- 1-in-6 parents are only informed of the requirement for payment after their child has started school
Uniforms
- Parents spend an average of €169 on uniforms and €99 on specific PE items
- Parents are broadly supportive of children wearing uniforms (84% in favour), but 40% still have some difficulty paying
Laptops and tablets
- 1 in 4 parents say their child is required to purchase a laptop or tablet for their schoolwork. This rises to 1 in 3 for secondary schools
- The average cost of a laptop or tablet to parents is €501 (rising to €562 for secondary schools). 1-in-10 say they spent over €900 on a full bundle
- 1-in-8 parents only found out about the requirement to pay for a laptop/tablet after their child had started school
- Over one third of those required to purchase a laptop or tablet are buying it on credit (credit card 33%, Buy now, pay later, 5%)
Attachments:
2024.07.03 BTS Parents_Phase 1
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