Back to School Allowance payments begin today

Applications are open for this year's Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance with changes to the qualifying criteria for the scheme meaning more families will qualify for enhanced payments.

Some 2,248 families in Cavan will receive the payments, which have increased by €100 per qualifying child, from this week; although applications will remain open up until the end of September.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced the changes to the scheme with the help of local school children in Lennon & Sons Draperys in Cootehill this afternoon.

It's thought the allowance will help over 131,000 low-income families across Ireland cover the cost of school expenses.

The means tested initiative will see families with children up to 12 years receive a €260 payment per child. For children over twelve years in second level education, €385 will be allowed.

Low-income families are the target audience.

“What I’m doing today is making sure that the families have the financial support that they need to deal with this cost that comes up every single year. They have to buy their uniforms, they have to get their footwear, so we have to support them," Minister Humphreys told the Celt.

For families who cannot avail of this initiative, the minister explained the universal Child Benefit payment goes to every family and furthered that the additional needs payment is there for “really difficult circumstances".

“If there is something that has happened in your family that you find yourself that you can't afford to cover the cost of the back-to-school footwear and clothing, you can apply for additional needs payments,” assured the Minister, explaining the importance of “getting the balance right” when it comes to support.

“Today is not about politics, it's about supporting people.

“It’s about putting money in their pockets so they can kit their children out to go to their school.”

Referring to the Cootehill drapery store, in particular, she said there are “a range of different uniforms available at reasonable prices".

“This particular shop here in Cootehill has an online presence,” said the Minister, explaining that people “all over the country” can buy their uniforms from Lennon & Sons.

“It’s such a big occasion in a child’s life, and we want to make sure that the support is there for them or for their parents to get them kitted out to head back to school.”

The deadline to apply for the Back to School Clothin and Footwear Allowance is September 30, 2023.

More information on the eligibility criteria can be found at www.gov.ie/bscfa

Meanwhile, Senator Joe O’Reilly has welcomed the measures: “Fine Gael in Government are deeply conscious of the need to continue to support families with the Cost of Living.

“That’s why last month, we announced an extra €100 per every child in receipt of Child Benefit," he told the Celt.

Senator O'Reilly pointed out that the free school books scheme will kick in for primary schools from September.

He further highlighted: “The continuing expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme to all DEIS primary schools and special schools will mean by the end of this year, 1,000 schools will have access to hot school meal funding."