The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has demanded schools take action to mitigate the impact of "excessive" school uniform prices. 

As primary schools prepare to finish up for the summer, some parents are already thinking about the cost of their growing child’s next uniform. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) spokesperson Grainne Griffin said parents are often given little choice when it comes to where they can buy school uniforms. 

“It’s simply that we have these arrangements with suppliers that have been in place for years, potentially even decades,” she said. 

“We send parents down to this particular shop to buy every crested jumper, crested polo shirts, crested uniforms - the list does go on. 

“The end result of that is that it costs parents an awful lot more money and it means that businesses can’t compete for that business. 

“So, it does depress competition in the local economy and, as the Competition Authority, that’s something we certainly want to see addressed.” 

Children in school uniform. Picture by: PjrTravel / Alamy.

The CCPC has written to schools about the impact high school uniform prices are having on parents and Ms Griffin said many are open to change. 

“When we talk to schools, the ones that we’ve engaged with say there’s not even a written agreement in place,” she said. 

“These arrangements are just that long standing. 

“But even if there was a written agreement in place, really what you’d want to see is that arrangement reviewed every two to three years. 

“To make sure that the companies that are supplying your uniforms or your devices are really offering good value, good service, that parents are really getting what they pay for.” 

A student flicks through a book in a school library. Picture by: Ben Birchall/PA Archive/PA Images

Ms Griffin continued that many school uniform suppliers are making huge profits from parents who have no option but to shop with them. 

“The cost differences are huge,” she said. 

“We heard from a parent last week who was buying a branded PE kit - like a top and shorts. 

“It was a cost of €80 and they were telling us that they could get the equivalent items on the high street for €20. 

“It’s a really big difference in cost and it’s worse in secondary schools because there are way more crested items being used.”

'They don’t have the option'

Ms Griffin criticised this practice as “just excessive” and said there are cheaper alternatives. 

“Nobody is saying that schools can’t have a school jumper - although ideally the crest will sew on or iron on,” she said.  

“But we’re hearing from parents who are buying crested polo, crested jumpers to go on top of them, crested coats to go on top of that. 

“Maybe a particular tie, a particular skirt; it’s just costing parents more and they don’t have the option to shop around at multiple supplies to get good value for money.” 

Ms Griffin said the CCPC is urging schools to consider their arrangements and “ensure there are more suppliers, more competition and, ultimately, that all of these costs come down for parents.”

Main image: A group of school children in school uniforms. Picture by: NorthScape / Alamy Stock Photo