Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
933. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of the total number of children who have received the back-to-school payment to date; the number of children who are expected to receive the payment in the coming weeks; and the total amount spent on this allowance to date, in tabular form. [57351/23]
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 allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid, and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
The scheme operates from June to September each year. The 2023 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme closed to new applications on 30 September 2023.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments totaling €86.07m have issued to 154,019 households in respect of 274,114 qualified children.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
