Vol. 571 No. 2
335 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will address the concerns of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, in view of the fact that income from family income supplement is included in calculating their entitlement to the back to school allowance; the percentage of those in receipt of FIS who applied for the back to school allowance that were refused the allowance in 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21452/03]
A person may qualify for payment of a back to school clothing and footwear allowance if he-she is in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment or is participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course, where a child dependent allowance is being paid in respect of the child and where the household income is at or below a specified level. For a lone parent with one child the income limit is €227.40 per week.
Income from family income supplement, FIS is not reckonable for BSCFA purposes and accordingly people are not refused payment on the basis of income from FIS. In the particular case referred to by the Deputy, the person has earnings from employment assessed by the health board at €343.88. This is in excess of the applicable income limit and accordingly the person does not qualify for the scheme.
The information sought by the Deputy, regarding the percentage of those in receipt of FIS who applied for BSCFA in 2002 and were refused, is not available.
