A Clare credit union is urging people struggling to meet back-to-school costs not to go to loan sharks or illegal money lenders.
New research from the Irish League of Credit Unions has revealed more than one in four families get into debt to cover school-related expenses.
The research conducted by iReach in June has found that 59% of parents consider back-to-school costs a financial burden.
Primary school parents expect to fork out a total of €1,607 over the 2026/27 school year while secondary school parents say they’ll be spending €2,142.
Of those surveyed, 48% say costs are higher than last, with uniforms, crested items and school trips placing the greatest strain on purse strings.
President of Saint Francis Credit Union in Ennis, Louis Fay, is encouraging parents to avoid going into debt and not to borrow from anyone except their local credit union.
The Department of Social Protection, meanwhile, has confirmed today that 2,690 Clare families will share a €1.07 million allocation under the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
A 2017 circular issued by the Department of Education advised schools they would receive a “premium capitation payment” if they introduced cost-saving measures like uniforms with iron-on crests.
Tulla parent Shirley Conway-Ryan says nine years later, crested uniforms still represent a significant financial burden on parents.
Listen to the full interview here
