Back-to-school costs Ireland: Parents dipping into savings and taking out loans ahead of new term

Parents forced to dip into savings and take loans to meet back-to-school costs

Children’s charity Barnardos calls for financial help for struggling families

Families are struggling with costs. Stock image: Getty

Huge numbers of parents are dipping into their savings to fund back-to-school costs.

School uniforms are a huge expense ahead of the new school year and digital devices are a high cost for secondary- school parents, according to the latest back-to-school cost survey from children’s charity Barnardos.