Schools have been reminded to avoid restrictive and costly uniform policies by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
The CCPC wrote a letter calling on schools to avoid such polices, which are putting families under unnecessary financial strain, stating that they have received complaints from families "who feel they have limited choice when purchasing uniforms".
These polices have led to families being required to pay more for branded uniforms when they could be given the chance to look around and seek the best value for their money.
Gráinne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications, has said that there is still a "really mixed picture", despite writing letters to schools last year and this year.
"Definitely some schools are changing and that's really positive, but we're also hearing from parents who say it's getting worse", she said.
She went on claim that families have been buying full regular school uniforms, and still expected to purchase new PE kits, calling this "too much", adding that parents "are still being forced to go to exclusive suppliers with no choice".
"There's a lack of competition in the market as a result, and we need to see change".
Five key recommendations were provided to ensure that reasonably priced and decent quality uniforms are available to parents.
- Uniform items should be as generic as possible
- Iron-on or stitch-on crests should be available
- Avoid appointing a single exclusive supplier for uniforms
- Any exclusive suppliers should be appointed after a competitive process
- Schools should regularly review arrangements with exclusive suppliers
Elsewhere, Ms Griffin has said that parents have a fresh "appetite" for a revamp to the entire approach of shopping for school uniforms.
"We hear from parents who contact our helpline, and the frustration from parents who say I am maybe paying €15 for a polo shirt that's crested.
"I can go into my local supermarket and I could be getting a multi-pack for less than the cost of one crested polo shirt," she said. "And that's before you even get into girl's pinafores, school coats.
"All of these things that can be so expensive and just put such pressures on parents at a time when we're seeing costs going up across the board," she said.
She went on to add that parents are generally "pro [school] uniform."
"There's huge support for it".
"This is about the cost and the shopping around."
Ms Griffin explained how one parent had claimed that they received a poll from the school about getting better quality uniforms, but the issue of cost was not mentioned.
When the uniform was rolled out, "parents were in shock because it was actually so much more expensive".
She stated that the solution to this issue is for parents to be allowed to shop around.
"If these provided uniforms are such good quality, then they shouldn't be afraid of a bit of competition", she said.
Ms Griffin said that schools argue that "it's just been this way for years" and the school uniform policy is based on a "longstanding arrangement" with suppliers.
Echoing this point, Áine Lynch, CEO of the National Parents Council, said that parents are concerned when they can only buy a uniform from one supplier, that they are expensive and have several items to buy.
The CEO insisted that parents are struggling with the costs, with the digital devices and contributions, and that it all adds up. She also agreed with the CCPC's key recommendations for the schools to cut down on these costs.
