One in 10 parents say they would consider turning to a moneylender to cover rising education costs, according to a new study.

The Irish League of Credit Unions survey shows that back-to-school costs have risen every year since 2012.

The average parent will spend nearly €1,000 on sending their child back to primary school this September, while costs for second-level students will reach almost €1,500.

Some 13% of families say they will have to forego spending on food to meet the expenses.

Extra-curricular activities will be the biggest financial burden, with parents expecting to spend an average of €185 over the coming weeks.

Uniforms costs come in second (€183), followed by school books (€146) and lunches (€145).

The majority of parents (79%) also say they feel pressured to make a “voluntary” contribution to their child’s school, averaging €113.

Only 14% of parents eligible for back-to-school allowance believe the subsidy is sufficient to cover costs.

A third of respondents expect to get into debt to cover the costs, with almost 70% saying they will have to sacrifice a family holiday or children’s summer camp.

The nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults was conducted in June 2016.