Parents say savings from Ireland’s free schoolbooks scheme are being negated by schools requiring expensive digital devices, forcing families into debt to meet back-to-school costs.
A new Barnardos survey of 830 parents found that half of primary school parents and 60% of secondary parents worry about affording school costs this year. Digital devices alone are expected to cost secondary families an average of €430.
Many parents report schools using the free books scheme as justification for switching to mandatory laptops or tablets. One parent said the principal told students “the money saved by free books, they can now spend on a laptop.”
Another parent whose child received free books for the first time faced a €500 ChromeBook requirement, saying “there is no benefit for us for the free schoolbooks. If anything, the cost has gone up.”
The survey found average back-to-school costs of €263 for primary and €406 for secondary students, before additional expenses like school tours and digital requirements. Half of secondary schools now require parents to purchase digital devices.
To cope, over 25% of secondary parents are dipping into savings, while 15% are taking loans or borrowing from family. Some parents admit skipping utility bills or going into debt until March to afford school costs.
Barnardos called for government investigation into schools mandating expensive devices and suggested piloting a digital tools fund for low-income families.