Back to school costs are estimated by parents at €487 for primary school children and €620 for those attending secondary school.
Research carried out for the National Consumer Agency (NCA) by Amárach found that 78 per cent of parents are more concerned about equipping their children for school this year than they were last year.
NCA chief executive Ann Fitzgerald urged parents said the costs involved were a significant financial pressure on parents.
“Based on our research a family of four with one primary and one secondary level child could have to pay up to €1,100 on average, just to send their children back to school this year. Spending this amount of money on back-to-school costs is a significant financial pressure for most parents, especially those who may be already struggling financially,” she said.
“For parents who are worried about their back-to-school costs, working out a budget, planning their spending and looking for ways to cut their costs can make a big difference.”
A full copy of the Back to School research, budget planner and money-saving tips are available at nca.ie