Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
436 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid in back to school clothing and footwear allowance in the Health Service Executive west area in 2011; if she will provide the break down by those under 12 years of age and those over 12 years of age; the number of individual families that were paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20377/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (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 not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. In 2011, over 196,000 individuals received a back to school clothing and footwear allowance payment in respect of some 384,000 children at a cost of almost €91m. A total of 18,297 families (in respect of 37,390 children) benefited from the scheme in the former Community Welfare Service, HSE West area (Galway, Roscommon and Mayo). Approximately 59% of payments were made in respect of children under 12 years of age and 41% in respect of children over 12 years of age.
