Schools have been urged to review their policies on forcing parents to pay over-the-odds for uniforms when cheaper options are available.

The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, anti-poverty group St Vincent de Paul and the National Parents Council's (NPC) primary division told the Irish Examiner the practice needs to be examined.

It was claimed in the current economic times it is unfair to expect hard-pressed parents to fork out large sums for school-specific clothing.

A study found that in some cases uniforms can cost up to 15 times more than less-expensive generic brands that can be bought for just €5.

Aine Lynch, chief executive of the NPC, stated: "Uniforms don't last all year, sometimes they only last five minutes."

She added that as a result uniforms can be "a real expense for families".

Parents looking to purchase uniforms ahead of the start of the new school year in September may want to check out SchoolDays' list of suppliers.

Written by Donal Walsh

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