Communion cash 'keeps climbing'

Children making their first communion have escaped the worst ravages of the recession and will get more cash then ever on their big day this year, according to a new survey.

However, those children being confirmed will not be so lucky and their "take-home pay" from their holy day will fall dramatically, the research by financial institution EBS found.

With thousands of children around the country due to celebrate their confirmation and first communion in the coming weeks, the building society has released its annual research, providing an insight into Irish adults’ attitudes towards spending on confirmations and communions.

The research also explores how the continued economic environment is impacting on the tradition of giving children money for their communion and examines what children are expected to do with the money they receive.

The average sum a child gets for making their communion continues to increase year on year. Last year, the average amount given per person to children making their communion was €36 compared with €30 in 2010. This year, it is expected to rise to €37. In comparison, confirmation gifts have dropped from €35 to €30 in 2012.

All told, children will receive gifts averaging €337 this year for making their communion, up 4 per cent on 2011’s figure while those making their confirmation will receive an average of €389, a year on year reduction of 20 per cent.

The survey said the estimated cost of a communion - once the clothes, parties and presents are paid for - will be €554 per child, up €75 on the estimated cost last year. When it comes to confirmations there has also been an increase in expected costs and this year parents estimated it would set them back €532, up 5 per cent on last year.

The survey also tried to establish what happened to last year’s communion and confirmation money and found that an impressive 55 per cent of children claimed to still have at least three-quarters of the cash they had been given last year.

“It is interesting to note that despite the ongoing financial pressures faced by people in Ireland there remains an increase in the amount of money that children will receive for their communion,” said EBS spokesman Aidan Power. “This highlights the fact that regardless of the economic environment many people are determined to stick with the long-standing traditions that have been in place in Irish society.”