The €100 increase in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will come into effect next week, rather than next month, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has confirmed.
The payment will be made to the families of 220,000 children, including Ukrainian refugee families. The €100 increase was announced by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys last week, and will be paid into bank accounts from next Monday.
Applications remain open for the payment until September 30. A total of €84million has been secured for the scheme this year – an increase of €26million.
Read more: How to apply for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
The increase means children aged between four and 11 will receive €260 rather than the previous €160 and children aged over 11 will receive €385 instead of €285. In total, it is estimated that 151,000 families will benefit from the scheme by the time it closes at the end of September.
Making the announcement last night, Minister Humphreys said: “My Department has put the processes in place quickly – ensuring that this additional money will be paid from next Monday. These changes and increases are really important in terms of assisting families with purchasing the likes of school uniforms and other back-to-school related costs.”
However, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the allowance doesn’t go far enough, and should be widened to help families struggling with the rising costs of living. She added: “The Back to School Allowance must be extended to allow middle-income families who do not qualify for State help.”
Further information on the eligibility criteria for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is available at gov.ie/bscfa.
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