It's being claimed the costs associated with returning to school have increased for many families with parents being pushed to purchase digital devices for their children.

The Department of Education recently confirmed that one in four secondary schools have asked parents to buy digital devices for students.

The information was contained in a School Data Collection Survey.

A total of twenty four percent of schools reported that they had asked parents to purchase or provide digital devices, such as laptops or tablets.

Leitrim County Councillor and secondary school teacher, James Gilmartin says over reliance on technology is not beneficial for students and he also expressed concern with the finical pressure such demands are placing on families at this time of year.