A recent survey conducted by the CCPC revealed the various hidden costs of education for families in Ireland, including expenses for digital devices, uniforms, and voluntary contributions to schools.

The survey of 1,202 parents and guardians highlighted that 84% of parents are asked to make financial contributions to their children's schools, with an average request of €167, and 1 in 6 parents being informed of this requirement after their child has already started school.

When it comes to uniforms, parents spend an average of €169, with additional costs for PE items, and while 84% support the idea of uniforms, 40% face challenges in affording them.

Furthermore, 1 in 4 parents reported that their child needs to buy a laptop or tablet for school, with an average cost of €501, rising to €562 for secondary schools, and over a third of these purchases are made on credit.

The CCPC provided advice for schools to be transparent about costs, offer payment plans, and for parents to be aware of their rights regarding expenses and voluntary contributions.