A total of €16.8 million has been allocated to help parents with the cost of school clothing and footwear for the new school year, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, announced yesterday.
"I urge parents who think they have an entitlement to apply for the payment to their local health board," the Minister said. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was designed to help people depending on social welfare and health board payments with the cost of children's school clothing and footwear, she said. It was also available to people on low incomes getting Family Income Supplement. The payment, which was income-related, was funded by the Department and administered by health boards.
Parents would get €80 for each child aged between two and 11 years. As a result of Budget improvements, parents of qualifying offspring aged between 12 and 22 years would receive €150 for each child, an increase of €30 on last year.