What's the story with back-to-school costs? Back to school are the words certain to give most children nightmares this week. The TV ads and in-store promotions start in the middle of July when children have barely shaken the chalk dust from their hair and continue until the end of this month when virgin workbooks are covered in brown paper and lunch boxes are re-packed after an idle summer fermenting in joyously discarded school bags.

But it's not only the 800,000 children of school-going age who have cause to shudder as the beginning of the new school year draws closer. Parents, forced to shell out increasingly ridiculous sums on books, uniforms, schoolbags, tracksuits, trainers, sports fees and a host of other items, are also left feeling pretty empty. At least their wallets are.

In the coming weeks some parents will spend more than €1,500 on books, uniforms and other essentials for each child entering secondary school, a recently published survey carried out on behalf of the Labour Party has shown.

Books for a second-level student will cost up to €500 while workbooks and other stationery cost a further €125. Another €100 will go towards administration expenses and then there are "voluntary" contributions which can routinely be more than €100.

For a primary school child the costs are not much less. The Labour survey put the average cost of specialised clothing such as school uniforms and sportswear for younger children at €413. Among the other general costs at primary level are €115 for books, €70 for voluntary contributions, €100 on administrative costs and €125 for workbooks and stationery, bringing the total to over €900.

Multiply that by six, as one mother PriceWatch spoke to last week has to do, and suddenly you're talking big money. Grainne Burke from Galway has six children aged between six and 16 returning to school and will have little change out of €3,000 when books, uniforms and PE gear are taken care of.

One reason her final bill is below average is that her three oldest children attend Coláiste Chroí Mhuire in Spiddal, which runs a book-hire system. Rather than spending big money on books, students borrow all the books they need, for a nominal €30 a year.

Tríona Uí Mhurchú is the headmistress at the school and is determined to help reduce the financial burden on the parents of her 400 pupils. Uniforms at the school are generic and have no crests so can be sourced cheaply in any department store. "We decided not to have a crest because we wanted to keep the prices down. As long as the clothes fall within set guidelines [ skirts below the knee, grey trousers for boys etc] then it is okay." The voluntary contribution which covers insurance costs, postage, photocopying and other administrative charges is capped at €30.

The book rental scheme offers savings of more than €100 per pupil each year and has been running up to Junior Cert level "for a very long time", Uí Mhurchú says.

"From year to year we re-use everything we can, but if we have to update the books then we do. The departments within the school do however have to discuss at length why they want to change their text books because we don't want it to happen just for the sake of it."

THESE MONEY-SAVING measures mean students can attend secondary school in Spiddal, with everything they need, for less than €200 a year - not bad compared with the sums quoted in the survey.

Fionnuala Kilfeather of the National Parents' Council believes the Spiddal approach should be more widely used throughout the State. She describes the high costs associated with our "free" education as a "social justice issue". She questions whether all the text books prescribed are strictly necessary and casts doubts on the increasing use of work-books which can not be re-used and are of limited educational value.

"There are so many benefits to making book-hiring systems mandatory," she says. "Apart from the financial savings, it is a green issue as well. It also encourages children to take care of the books and reduces the amount of theft. It seems so obvious but does call for real co-operation between schools and parents."

She accepts that extra work - for both parents and schools - is involved in running a book-hire scheme but believes it can be done, particularly if parents engage in dialogue with teachers and school boards about bringing about fundamental and widespread change.

Parents also need to sure to shop around for the best bargains.

Burke echoes this need for common sense. She uses an "excellent" book exchange programme in the city where five or six books primary school books can be bought second hand for €100 compared with the €300 they would cost new.

"There are plenty of other ways you can make significant economies," she says.

"For some classes the kids need hardback copy books but you really need to shop around for them. If you buy them in the big stationery shops they can cost double what they cost in cheaper shops or supermarkets."

While fitting out her children is expensive, it is, she adds, absolutely worth it. "I don't mind spending the money and I am glad to be able to do it for my children. It can be very hard growing up and you'd never want your kids to feel out of step at school."