Back-to-school costs in Ireland, and the supports that help

Every August, Irish families face a wave of back-to-school costs, uniforms, footwear, books, stationery and school contributions. Two big supports take a chunk out of the bill: the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) for lower-income families, and the free schoolbooks scheme, which now covers every child from primary right through to Leaving Cert. Here is how each one works and how to trim the rest.

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Where the money goes

Back-to-school spending in Ireland tends to land in a few predictable buckets: uniforms and footwear, schoolbooks and stationery, a school bag and lunch gear, and various school charges: voluntary contributions, activity or photocopying fees, and after-school or transport costs. The good news is that two of the biggest lines, clothing and books, now have real State supports behind them. The rest can be managed with a bit of planning.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA)

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a social welfare payment that helps lower-income families with the cost of getting children kitted out for the new year. To qualify you generally need to tick a few boxes: you have a child of a qualifying age (school-age children, and older teenagers returning to full-time second-level education), you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment or are on an approved employment, education or training scheme (or your household is within the income limits), and you and the child are resident in Ireland.

You may not need to apply. Each summer the Department of Social Protection pays a large share of eligible families automatically, after matching its records, and tells them by post or through their MyWelfare account. If you are not notified of an automatic payment, apply online at MyWelfare.ie before the annual closing date (usually the end of September).

Because the age bands, income limits and payment rates change every year, we deliberately do not quote figures here. Check the live rules and amounts on gov.ie: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance or citizensinformation.ie.

Free schoolbooks, now from junior infants to Leaving Cert

Schoolbooks used to be one of the heaviest costs of all. Not anymore for most families. The free schoolbooks scheme has been rolled out in stages and now reaches right across the system:

  • Primary and special schools: all pupils in State-funded schools get free schoolbooks, e-books, workbooks and copybooks.
  • Post-primary: the scheme was extended to Junior Cycle, then to Transition Year and Senior Cycle: so it now covers every year group, Junior Cert through Leaving Cert, in schools in the Free Education Scheme.

Schools receive the funding and provide the books and core classroom resources directly, usually on loan, so they are returned at the end of the year and reused. At primary level there is no deposit; some post-primary schools may ask for a small refundable book deposit. For the current scope and detail, see the gov.ie Schoolbooks Scheme Information Hub.

Voluntary contributions are exactly that, voluntary

Many schools ask parents for a voluntary contribution towards running costs. The word matters: schools must make clear there is no obligation to pay, and a child's place or continued enrolment cannot depend on it. It is entirely your decision, and you should never feel pressured. If a request feels compulsory, or is tied to a book scheme or school tour, that is not how a voluntary contribution is meant to work, you can query it with the school.

Practical ways to cut the cost

Beyond the State supports, a few habits make a real dent in the August bill:

  • Choose generic uniform items where the school allows it. Department guidance encourages schools to pick generic, multi-supplier uniforms and to make crested items optional, so ask what is genuinely required.
  • Use second-hand uniform sales: many schools, parents' associations and local groups run swap shops or pre-loved rails.
  • Lean on book rental and loan schemes: with the free books scheme most families no longer buy books, but rental still helps for anything outside it.
  • Reuse and spread the spend: last year's bag, lunchbox and unfinished stationery are often fine, and buying over the summer beats one big August hit.
  • Check every support you're entitled to, including the BSCFA and, if travel is a cost, the school transport scheme.
  • Use student discounts for teenagers: most brand student codes start at 16, so younger children save more through child fares. This guide to student discounts in Ireland by age sorts the offers and says which Leap Card to get.

Citizens Information keeps a useful round-up of the schemes and grants at citizensinformation.ie: Financial help with going to school.

Plan the rest of the return to school

Costs are only part of getting ready. If your child is starting out, our starting school checklist walks through everything to sort before junior infants. If school-run travel is on your list, see how the school transport scheme works and who qualifies. And if you are still weighing up options, you can find and compare primary schools near you on HeadStart.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance?

It is a social welfare payment that helps parents with the cost of uniforms and footwear at the start of the school year. To qualify you generally need a child of the right age, to be getting a qualifying social welfare payment or on an approved scheme (or within the income limits), and to be resident in Ireland. Many families are paid it automatically each summer, while others apply through MyWelfare.ie.

Do I have to apply for the Back to School Allowance?

Not always. The Department of Social Protection pays a large share of families automatically after matching their records, and lets them know by post or in their MyWelfare account over the summer. If you are not told you will be paid automatically, you apply online at MyWelfare.ie before the annual closing date, usually at the end of September.

Are schoolbooks free in Ireland now?

Yes, for most children. The free schoolbooks scheme covers all pupils in State-funded primary and special schools, and it has been extended to all post-primary students, Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, in schools in the Free Education Scheme. Schools provide the books, e-books and core classroom resources, usually on a loan basis, so you no longer buy them yourself.

Do I have to pay a school's voluntary contribution?

No. A voluntary contribution is exactly that, voluntary. Schools may ask for one, but they must make clear there is no obligation to pay, and your child's place or enrolment cannot depend on it. It is entirely your decision whether to contribute.

How can I cut back-to-school costs?

Buy generic uniform items rather than crested ones where the school allows it, use second-hand uniform sales and book-rental or book-loan schemes, reuse last year's stationery and school bag, and check whether you qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Spreading purchases over the summer rather than one August spend also helps.

What age does a child have to be for the Back to School Allowance?

The allowance covers school-age children within a set age range, and older teenagers who are returning to full-time second-level education in the autumn. Because the exact age bands and income limits are set each year, check the current rules on gov.ie or citizensinformation.ie before you assume you do or do not qualify.

More parent guides

Useful links

Last reviewed 5 July 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan, it is not official advice. Scheme rules, dates and amounts can change, so always confirm the current details with the relevant scheme or with your child's school before you rely on them.