A great education is the best possible start in life and for most parents ensuring they can provide for their children’s education, from primary school right through to third level, is crucial.
Education in Ireland is supposed to be free, but each year back-to-school costs are rising for families. The cost of putting just one child through school can easily run into tens of thousands of euro. If you have two or more children then you’re going to have to dig even deeper to sustain the cost of their educational needs over the long-term. Latest research has revealed the cost of educating your children in Ireland, and here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to spend throughout your child’s school and college years
The average cost of sending a child to primary school each year is €473, with uniforms and books the most substantial expenses. Capitation grants paid to primary and post primary schools have been reduced in recent years and parents have seen this reflected in the increased voluntary contributions they are asked to pay, now €125 on average in primary schools. The total cost of 8 years’ primary school education comes in at an estimated €3,780.
The cost of education gets even higher as your child moves into secondary school. The average annual cost of education for a child entering first year is €1,040. School books and transport are among the most sizeable expenses.If we allow for the fact that the bulk of school books will be bought in first and fifth year in the build-up to junior cert and leaving cert cycles respectively, the total cost of six years’ secondary school education, extra expenses excluded is estimated to be €5,040.
While the average cost of sending a child to primary school may seem excessive, and worse still when it comes to the rising cost of secondary school, the expense associated with third-level education is in a completely different ballpark. All ‘free-fees’ third level institutions charge a mandatory student contribution of €3,000 per year and unfortunately this student contribution is just one of the costs likely to be incurred.
But thankfully Zurich have set up a savings plan to help you with all this.If you save €140 pm for 5 years-you will have €9158,for 12 years-€25,032 and for 18 years the pot will be €42,012.
https://www.zurichlife.ie/savings-and-investments/savings-options/education-costs/
These kids savings plans are also tax free.
Get organized for your kids ASAP,call darragh on 016339245 or email me at darragh.farrell@yes.ie to get started.