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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2007

Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Questions (266)

Sean Fleming

Question:

349 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason people on community employment schemes are not eligible for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; his views on changing the policy on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22880/07]

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Written answers

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. The allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment or Health Service Executive (HSE) payment, are participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course, and have household income at or below certain set levels. People participating in Community Employment (CE) schemes are eligible to apply for BSCFA. The Community Employment (CE) scheme is included, among others, as one of the qualifying payments for the purposes of the BSCFA scheme.

Participants in a CE scheme are assessed under the standard rules for BSCFA. The weekly income limit appropriate to a single person with one child is €331.30. For a couple with one child, the income limit is €470.80. This limit increases by €22 for each eligible child.

Any changes to the current income limits for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme would have cost implications and would have to be considered in a budget context and in the light of the resources available to me for improvements in social welfare generally.

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