More than half of parents of secondary school students are spending an average of €447 on digital devices as part of back-to-school costs, according to a new survey by Barnardos.
The charity's Back-to-School Survey 2026 found families are facing growing financial pressure as the cost of education continues to rise.
The survey found that 57 per cent of parents of secondary school students expected to spend an average of €447 on digital devices alone.
More than one in four secondary school parents (27 per cent) and 21 per cent of primary school parents said they would be relying on savings to cover back-to-school expenses. Meanwhile, 15 per cent of secondary school parents and 9 per cent of primary school parents said they had taken out a loan or borrowed money from family or friends to meet the costs.
One parent said they had been asked to pay €850 for a compulsory tablet.
“The school has no understanding of the current cost-of-living crisis and how families are struggling. The tablet was compulsory, absolutely disgraceful,” the parent said.
The survey also found that 70 per cent of parents were either “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about being able to afford school uniforms, while 18 per cent said they were “very concerned” about meeting overall back-to-school costs.
Only 30 per cent of primary school parents and 9 per cent of secondary school parents said their school offered an affordable uniform option.
One parent said the costs had become increasingly difficult to manage.
“I worry every summer about how I will fund everything. The difficulty this year is that secondary school is so expensive. I have to try to scrimp and save where I can,” they said.
Barnardos National Policy Manager Stephen Moffatt said progress had been made in reducing education costs in recent years, but significant challenges remained.
“Barnardos has been campaigning to reduce back-to-school costs for over 20 years. We've seen substantial progress, however secondary school parents remain concerned about the cost of digital devices, while primary school parents continue to face expensive uniforms, which often now include additional branded tracksuits,” he said.
“The Government needs to continue the progress made recently in order to provide a truly free education.”
The charity is calling on the Government to review the cost of digital devices, make affordable uniform options mandatory in all schools, expand eligibility for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and introduce a code of practice for voluntary school contributions.
Many parents also expressed frustration at the income thresholds for the back-to-school allowance, saying families just above the qualifying limits were missing out despite facing similar financial pressures.
One parent said the current system was unfair.
“Missing out because your income is only a few euros over the limit feels deeply unfair. Assistance should taper off based on income rather than stop completely, so that working families are not penalised for earning slightly more,” they said.
The online survey received 704 responses from parents, covering the costs of 455 primary school students and 249 secondary school students.
