Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1303. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance limits by €100 per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41670/22]
View answerThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
This year, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment has been increased by €100 for the 2022 scheme year, building on the previously announced increase of €10. The rates of payment for the 2022 scheme year are €260 for children aged between 4 and 11 years and €385 for children aged 12 and over.
To qualify for the allowance a person must satisfy a number of conditions, including being within the relevant income limit. This year, the income limits for one parent families were increased to bring them in line with the income limits for two parent families, widening the eligibility for that cohort of customers.
The income limits are determined with reference to State Contributory Pension rates. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance income limit is calculated as the maximum personal rate for State Pension Contributory (€253.30) plus the Increase for Qualified Adult rate (€168.70) plus the Increase for Qualified Child rate (€48) plus €150.
It is not possible to accurately quantify the additional number of families that would make an application if the income limits were increased by €100 per child, the number of children in those families or the age of the children.
