Barnardos survey: 1 in 10 local families take out loan to cover back to school costs

One in ten local families are having to take out a loan to cover Back to School costs, according to children’s charity Barnardos.

Parents across Carlow and Kilkenny are paying between 340 and 400 euro to send a child to primary school, rising to 775 euro for secondary school.

Barnardos is calling on the Government to increase investment in education to make schooling free for all.

Speaking to KCLR today, Head of Advocacy June Tinsley says it’s not realistic to expect families below a certain income to be in a position to save for these expenses in advance.