School uniform cost alert for Irish parents amid ‘drive up prices' brand warning & generic items call
SCHOOLS across Ireland are being urged to opt for generic items as part of their school uniforms rather than branded clothing.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has penned a letter to primary and secondary schools across the country asking them to consider back to school costs for parents.
The commission asked
They have also warned against recommending specific retailers where parents should purchase school uniform items.
The watchdog said that, not only does this drive up
It comes as figures reveal 75 per cent of schools have a specific recommended retailer where at least one item of the uniform must be bought.
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Commission member Una Butler told
She explained: "Back-to-school can be an expensive and stressful time for families.
"By promoting competition among suppliers, schools can help to reduce costs and deliver good value.
"By having branded uniforms and exclusive suppliers, schools can unwittingly suppress competition between businesses and drive up prices.
MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN
"Competition is most intense when consumers have options, so we recommend that schools appoint multiple suppliers and avoid exclusive suppliers.
I'm a single mum-of-four - I save loads on uniforms for back-to-school
"Where a specific supplier needs to be appointed, schools should regularly review their arrangements to ensure that the supplier is offering the best mix of quality, price, and service to parents and guardians."
Come the end of summer, retailers across the country such as
Based on CCPC advice parents will be able to opt to buy these cheaper alternatives not embroidered with school logos or from a specific brand.
The commission have also urged schools not to put pressure on parents in their back to school lists when it comes to technology.
This includes asking
Some schools require tablets for learning and essentially all secondary schools require calculators for maths.
HELP FOR PARENTS
There is help available to parents who are struggling to keep up with back to school costs, especially for uniforms.
The
Most people who qualify for the
However, if you think you might be eligible and do not receive an automatic payment you can apply for it.
All details on the eligibility criteria of the payment can be found on the Gov.ie website.
The payment applies to children between four and 17 on September 30 of the year you apply.
It also applies to those aged 18 to 22 and returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of the year you apply.
For those aged four to 11 parents will receive a sum of €160 while those aged 12 to 22 will receive €285.
1
Schools have been warned they may actually be creating higher costs
Credit: Getty Images
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