The manager of a Family Resource Centre in Longford says that government supports for children's education don't go far enough for hard pressed parents.
Grace Kearney from the Ballymahon Family Resource Centre says while the increase in Back to School Allowance and free bus tickets are welcome, they won't help everyone.
The resource worker says some of the people who are struggling badly now are those on lower wages, who are facing huge increases in necessities, but no increase in wages to meet them.
Speaking on the Let's Talk show today she says people are having to put basic items on their credit card because they've run out of money by the end of the month.
Only yesterday actually I was talking to a parent, and they went and they filled up their car at a local filling station , it was €91 euro to fill up their car , and their car is essential for them to get to work.
It takes a fill of diesel to get to work every week , and that €91 euro yesterday went on a credit card.
So that's where we're at now, people are paying for everyday items on credit cards.
Their payments and their wages are not reaching the end of the month, or the end of the week.