By Sean Murphy
HIDDEN back-to-school costs and worrying energy arrears mean under pressure parents have never had it so hard, it has been warned.
Amid the unrelenting cost-of-living crisis, and with only weeks left of the school summer holidays, the warnings have been issued by the St Vincent de Paul charity in Donegal and local politicians.
They told the Donegal News that families need support and some are at breaking point.
The Irish League of Credit Unions’ most recent survey on the financial burden of sending kids back to school shows that 25 per cent will get into debt before schools reopen.
It calculated that average back-to-school expenses are €1,607 for primary school and €2,142 for secondary school across the full academic year.
As well as annual uniform costs, shoes, schoolbags, stationery, schools’ voluntary charges, transport, childcare like crèche and after-school fees, families are also challenged by crippling car fuel costs, energy bills like electricity, fears for home heating oil prices as summer ends, mortgages and rent, and still rising grocery prices with no reprieve in sight for an end to the cost-of-living crisis.
It exploded with price increases and soaring inflation at the end of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that contributed to sky-high oil prices, food shortages, and the highest rates of inflation in decades.
Rosa Glacken, president of the St Vincent de Paul in Donegal. Photo: Brian McDaid.
St Vincent de Paul regional president Rosa Glacken told the Donegal News: “Back-to-school costs together with several other challenges linked to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis make this year even more difficult.
“The cost of energy is one of the biggest issues facing families. Energy credits definitely helped but we are now seeing more families than ever having problems paying bills and in energy arrears.
“They have very little spare cash and that includes working families.
“Many households are limited at this time of year annually but this year has extra challenges.
“People have mortgages to pay and cope with the cost of living and back-to-school costs. These are issues that we are seeing.
“An issue important for Donegal is that we have poor infrastructure so families need cars and the cost of keeping a car on the road is also rising.
“All of this puts pressure on households. Then you have the weekly grocery shop. It is being affected with some parents now buying cheaper ingredients.
“We all want children to eat nourishing food, but families are struggling and cutting back.”
School children will be returning to school within weeks.
St Vincent de Paul recorded a drop in calls for support with back-to-school costs when the free book scheme was introduced in 2023.
But its charity shops remain busy with families being helped by school uniforms that can help to offset some of the back-to-school money problems.
Rosa said: “Our shops are very good and have very good quality uniforms. I would advise people to get in for a look.
“There are so many hidden costs and parents are under pressure. I would advise them to reach out, get in touch with us, if they need help.”
The Society of St Vincent de Paul tries to assist with uniforms and footwear, books and materials, plus hidden costs.
Support can be reached through its svp.ie website.
Warnings have been issued about school financial pressures like buying laptops.
In Inishowen, Cllr Jack Murray described back-to-school as inflicting “enormous pressure” on families.
He told the Donegal News: “Back-to-school time places enormous pressure on families, many of whom are already struggling with the wider cost-of-living crisis.
“Uniforms, shoes, school supplies, transport, so-called voluntary contributions and, increasingly, expensive tablets or laptops can leave many parents facing bills of hundreds of Euro for each child.
“The Government cannot describe education as free while some families are being presented with these costs.
“Any savings from the free schoolbooks scheme could be quickly wiped out if parents are required to purchase a digital device costing several hundred Euro.
“Families in rural areas such as Donegal can face additional pressure because of transport costs and the continuing uncertainty surrounding school bus places.
“Sinn Féin has put forward practical proposals, including doubling the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, reducing uniform costs through legislation, opposing increases in school transport charges and establishing support for families required to purchase expensive digital devices.”
He added: “No parent should have to borrow money or choose between household bills and ensuring their child has what they need for school.
“We need to remove the hidden costs of education and ensure that every child can return to school with dignity and on an equal footing.”