Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
597. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline her plans to make the back to school clothing and footwear allowance available to families of children that qualify for ECCE (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4202/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €49.5 million for this scheme in 2018.
In general, 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, where the assessable income for the household is within prescribed limits.
The focus of the scheme is to support costs that arise in relation to uniforms and footwear when children return to school and it is not proposed to extend the scheme to children attending pre-school settings. Any changes to reduce the age of eligibility for the BSCFA would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
