Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2016
146. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of restoring the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to 2011 rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4391/16]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €38.8 million for this scheme in 2016.
End of year records show that under the 2015 BSCFA scheme, payments were made to over 153,000 families in respect of some 281,000 children at a cost of €41.4 million. The rate of payment was €100 in respect of children aged 4 to 11 and €200 for children over 12 years in second level education.
Using the number of children covered by the scheme in 2015 as a basis, the full year additional cost in 2016 to increase the BSCFA to the 2011 rates of payment, which were €200 and €305 respectively, would be approximately €29 million. Changes to increase the rate of payment to any scheme administered by the Department would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
