The Real Cost of School in 2025 - Back to School Survey (Report)

For over 20 years Barnardos has been campaigning to reduce back to school costs, in order to reduce financial pressure facing parents across the country. Budget 2023 introduced free schoolbooks to all primary school children, Budget 2024 to all pupils in junior cycle and then extended to all pupils last year in Budget 2025. Also, in Budget 2025 the Government expanded the eligibility of the hot school meals programme to all primary schools along with a welcome increase to the capitation grant from €200 to €224 per student in primary schools and from €345 to €386 per student in post-primary schools, starting September 2025. However, many parents still remain concerned about several back to school costs, in particular in relation to uniforms, voluntary contributions and for secondary school parents the increasing cost of digital devices. The 2025 Barnardos Back to School Report considers these issues and other back to school financial pressures on parents and families as their children return to education in September, reflecting some shared views and findings from our Cost of Living report published last month. It is important the Government continues the positive momentum and builds on recent actions to provide a truly free education. Barnardos calls on the government to prioritise these steps: 1. Expand eligibility to back to school allowance 2. Continue to increase capitation rate to reduce reliance on voluntary contributionsand introduce a voluntary fund code of practice 3. Reduce the cost of digital devices schools placed on parents 4. Continue to promote affordable uniform options

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