Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Paul McGrath

Question:

374 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason essential household expenditure on a mortgage is not taken into account when assessing applicants for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The back to school clothing and footwear – BSCF – allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards in parallel with the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The scheme is designed to assist certain recipients of social welfare and health board payments with the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear. The scheme operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year. An allowance of £63 or 79.99 is payable in respect of qualified children from two to 11 years and an allowance of £78 or 99.04 is payable in respect of qualified children from 12 to 22 years.

A person may qualify for payment of the BSCF allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment or participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income at or below certain prescribed levels. Details of the income levels, which vary depending on the composition of the household, are shown in the following tabular statement.

These income levels relate to gross household income, net of PRSI and work related travel expenses. Mortgage costs are taken into account in certain circumstances. If the person applying for back to school clothing and footwear allowance is in receipt of a mortgage interest supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, then the amount of any such supplement is not counted as income for the purposes of the means test. The value of any exceptional needs payments made is similarly disregarded when assessing household income levels for the purpose of deciding entitlement to a BSCF allowance. However, if a person does not qualify for a SWA mortgage interest supplement, for example, on means grounds or because they are in full-time employment, then mortgage costs are not taken into account for the purposes of the BSCF means test.

I am aware of the difficulties faced by low income households when faced with providing clothing and footwear for children at back-to-school time in September each year. I am also very conscious of the importance of supporting low income families so that their children can participate fully in the education system to the maximum extent possible. In that regard, I have established a working group to undertake a review of the back to school clothing and footwear scheme as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations. The review is examining all aspects of the scheme including the rates of payment as well as the income limits, the means test, time of payment, the eligibility criteria and other issues. I expect to have the working group's report early in the new year.

Income limits for various household sizes are as follows:

Household size	Weekly Income Limit
Couple with 1 child	£194.40 (246.84)
Couple with 2 children	£209.60 (266.14)
Couple with 3 children	£224.80 (285.44)
Couple with 4 children	£240.00 (304.74)

Limit is increased by £15.20 or 19.30 per week for each additional child.

Household size	Weekly Income Limit
Lone Parent with 1 child	£124.00 (157.45)
Lone Parent with 2 children	£141.00 (179.03)
Lone Parent with 3 children	£158.00 (200.62)
Lone Parent with 4 children	£175.00 (222.20)

Limit is increased by £17.00 or 21.59 per week for each additional child.