Uniform benefit for 220,000 schoolkids
Extra €100 to be paid next week says minister
THE Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid to the families of 220,000 children – with Ukrainian refugee families also set to benefit.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys also confirmed the extra €100 payment she announced last week to assist families will be paid into bank accounts from next Monday.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance remains open for applications until September 30.
A total of €84million has been secured for the scheme this year – an increase of €26million.
In total, it is estimated that 151,000 families and 262,000 children will benefit from the scheme by the time it closes at the end of September.
The scheme provides a once-off payment towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.
Last year, it supported more than 137,000 families with back to school costs. Minister Humphreys increased the allowance by €10 in Budget 2022, with additional changes to make more one-parent families eligible.
As part of the Government’s €67million back-to-school package announced last week, she increased the allowance by €100 per child.
This means that for this year, the total amount being paid for each qualified child aged four to 11 will be €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over will be €385. The payment will be made in two stages for those who receive their allowance today.
The original awarded amount will be paid this week, followed by the additional €100 payment per qualifying child next week.
Making the announcement last night, Minister Humphreys said: “My Department has put the processes in place quickly – ensuring that this additional money will be paid from next Monday.
“These changes and increases are really important in terms of assisting families with purchasing the likes of school uniforms and other back-toschool related costs.”
However, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Mcdonald said the allowance doesn’t go far enough, and should be widened to help families struggling with the rising costs of living.
She added: “The Back to School Allowance must be extended to allow middle-income families who
do not qualify for State help.”