Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2006
17 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the back to school clothing and footwear allowance is adequate; and if he will increase this allowance. [17558/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra71 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to increase the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in view of increasing related expenses faced by parents on low income. [17562/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 71 together.
The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme (BSCFA) operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year and is administered on behalf of my Department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Applications for the allowance may be made between the beginning of June and the end of September each year. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.
The 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 intended as a contribution towards meeting the full cost of school clothing and footwear. From June 2006, an allowance of EUR120 is payable in respect of qualified children aged from 2 to 11 years, or EUR190 in respect of qualified children aged from 12 to 22 years.
A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare or Health Service Executive 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.
My Department established a Working Group to undertake a review of the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme as part of its Expenditure Review Programme. The Working Group published its report in August 2004. In relation to the adequacy of the payment rates of the scheme, the review noted that while the value of the BSCFA had increased by 152% for children under 12 and by 194% for children over 12 since 1990, the Consumer Price Index figure for clothing and footwear dropped by over 24% in the same period. The review concluded that payment rates did not warrant adjustment.
In the recent budget the rates of BSCFA were increased by EUR40 from the previous rates of EUR80 and EUR150. This represents an increase of 50% and 26% respectively. In addition to the increase in BSCFA rate, I also made provision in the budget to increase the additional income disregard for entitlement to the scheme from EUR50 to EUR100. Budget 2006 also extended entitlement to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to recipients of orphan's allowance or pensions for the first time.
I intend to keep the adequacy of back to school clothing and footwear allowance payments under regular review, as I consider it to be an important support for parents at a time of particular financial strain.
