Mayo families continue to seek back-to-school support from SVP

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has received almost 3,500 calls for help with back-to-school costs this year, as parents looked for support with expensive uniforms, voluntary contributions, school administration fees, electronic devices, mock exams and Transition Year charges.

From 2023 to 2024, SVP recorded a notable 26% reduction in calls during the back-to-school period, largely due to the introduction of free school books for primary and post-primary pupils. This year, despite the scheme being extended to senior cycle students, the charity has seen just a 3% decrease in calls as families struggle to meet other education costs.

“While free books are a welcome step, the reality is that education in Ireland is still far from free,” said Niamh Dalziel, Research and Policy Officer with SVP.

“Parents are cutting back on essentials or going into debt to meet school costs. Chronic underfunding forces schools to rely on families, creating a system that is deeply unequal.”

The St. Vincent de Paul is urging government to address the underlying funding gaps in education through Budget 2026.

The charity’s key recommendation to improve educational equity, as set out in the Delivering an Equal and Inclusive Budget submission, include: Removal of mock exam and correction fees; provision of funding support for electronic devices in schools where they are mandatory; increase of the capitation grant by 25%, with a higher rate of 30% made available to schools that implement the Department of Education’s guidance on affordable school uniforms.

“An inclusive education system removes financial barriers and stigma, and gives every child the chance to thrive,” said Dalziel. “Budget 2026 is an opportunity to make free education in Ireland a reality.”

You can read the full St. Vincent de Paul Pre-Budget Submission 2026 here.