Vol. 441 No. 8
34 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the escalating costs of providing clothing for first communion and confirmation if he will consider the setting-up of a national scheme to assist families in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a health board may make a single payment to meet an exceptional need, including assistance with the cost of clothing. It is recognised that confirmation and communion times may involve families in additional expense and assistance may be provided towards these costs.
The back-to-school clothing and footwear scheme assists parents on low incomes with meeting the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear. The scheme is administered by the health boards as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme and a sum of £10.5 million has been allocated to the scheme in 1994. In 1993, some 108,000 families were assisted in respect of 255,000 children.
The setting up of a national scheme to assist families with the costs of first communion and confirmation expenses would have financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.
