Looming Back to School Costs
Family support services and financial experts have described the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance as insufficient and disappointing. The huge costs of sending children to school are a headache for many families, with expenses such as books, clothing and footwear leaving them facing large debts.
Taking into account clothing, footwear, school books and additional contributions such as classroom resources, childrens charity Barnados estimates back to school costs as being in the region of €350 for primary school children and up to €735 for secondary school pupils.
The amounts payable through the scheme, for those who qualify, are €100 for children aged four to 11 years on or before September 30, 2015, and €200 for children aged 12 to 22 on or before the same date. Those aged 18 to 22 must be in full-time education in a recognised school or college.
June Tinsley, head of advocacy at Barnardos, has criticised the back to schoolallowance. She said that in addition to the small amount payable on the allowance, the cuts during the recession mean that it is even more important to families than it had been previously.
It is insufficient. From our perspective, it is very disappointing that it has been cut by so much during the recession. The value to families had depreciated and they have been forced to make up the deficit themselves.
She emphasised that uniforms are a particular source of concern for most families.
Luckily, some schools are very progressive and have reduced the number of items necessary to have a crest, or have an option of an iron-on or sew-on crest. Others, unfortunately, have done nothing. Year on year, we get parents absolutely frantic about the costs.
Ms Tinsley indicated that many families are left with no alternative than to seek out money lenders to cover the costs of sending a child back to school, leading many to forgo certain bills and into a cycle of debt. In the case of low income families or families with multiple children, costs can be near insurmountable and limit the opportunities offered to some children.
Every year, we hear from parents forced to make impossible choices in order to fund their childs education. Inevitably, low income families face the greatest challenge footing the bill, putting already disadvantaged children at even greater risk of failing to fulfil their potential. This is grossly unfair.
Financial advisory service MABS has urged parents to consider back to school costs months in advance. It says that the majority underestimate the extent of the costs and that mismanaging money can result in a cycle of debt.
Margaret O’Neill, money advice coordinator with MABS Cork, based in Penrose Wharf, said that many families arent prepared for all aspects of back to school costs. For the most part, the allowances do not come close to covering costs faced by families each September.
It doesnt cover everything. Often there are other expenses that it doesnt cover. Sometimes people underestimate the actual cost of sending children to school – they focus on books and uniforms, which are a big outlay, but they forget other elements.
The result of the low supplements – €100 per primary school child and 200 per secondary school child – and high costs, for many families, is a cycle of debt. Many forgo bills that they cannot afford to pay, while others turn to high-interest, short-term loans to cover their costs.
The issue in this case is that High-street credit institutions employ much higher interest rates than the likes of banks and credit unions, with some loans subject to rates of 187%, in comparison to just 12% if issued by a credit union.
Ms ONeill said: What you find is that the amount borrowed in the overall context is quite small, but the weekly repayments and the interest rates can be very high.
In total, €44.3 million has been made available for the allowance in 2015. Those who received it in 2014 will do so automatically this year. New applicants should contact the Department of Social Protection or see www.citizensinformation.ie before September 30 for information and income limits.
Average bill is now more than €300 with some families paying over €700
CHILDRENS charity Barnardos estimated the total cost of sending a child back to school in 2014 at more than €300, with some parents facing bills higher than €700.
Despite some schools relaxing their stance on school uniforms, the vast majority have specific guidelines about what is needed and where it should be bought. In the case of primary school children, just 12% of parents can buy a plain coloured uniform, while just 1% of secondary schools offer this option.
Typically, crested school tracksuits cost €30-€45 for a primary school pupil, with crested school jumpers approximately €45 and school jackets up to €65.
The cost of footwear comes to an average of €55 for children in senior infants, rising to 60 for older primary school and secondary school pupils.
In comparison, last summer saw the country’s supermarkets engage in a price war that offered generic school uniforms from as little as 6. Generic sweaters were available from €2.49, with polo shirts, pleated skirts and trousers in a range of colours starting at just €1.99.
Barnardos indicate that the vast majority of parents are still paying 100 or more for a primary school uniform though, with one in five parents of secondary school children spending in excess of €250.
For senior infants children, parents spend on average €110 on a uniform and a further €55 on footwear. Additional costs for books (€75), classroom resources (€30) and additional contributions (€75) put the total at €345.
This increases for older children, with the average cost of sending a fourth class pupilback to school coming to €380, €180 of which is on clothing and footwear.
For secondary school students, clothing (€200), footwear (€60) and books (up to €300) contribute to Barnardos estimated total of €735 – almost four times the maximum amount issued under the back to school allowance.
Plan ahead to avoid huge bills
THE advice from financial experts is to plan ahead for back to school costs.
Margaret ONeill, money advice coordinator with MABS Cork, said that many of the families the service assists highlight back to school costs as one of their primary concerns.
The advice they give to parents is to plan throughout the year to avoid shelling out huge money in September.
We see school expenses and educational costs as a concern for families. Parents need to be planning all through the summer, saving money and availing of offers when they are available to them.
Ms ONeill also encouraged more schools to adopt book rental and uniform exchange schemes that are a huge relief to families who can avail of them.
We would encourage parents to approach the schools to discuss the possibility of uniform exchanges. People have found these to be really helpful.
The clients that we meet that can use it find it to be such a relief. What they had thought was going to be a big outlay now isnt.