Parents encouraged to apply for increased Back to School Allowance
By Aura McMenamin
A public information campaign launched today is urging parents of school children to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance after it was increased.
The allowance has increased by €25 for schoolchildren aged 4-11 and €50 for students over 12, making the new allowance €125 and €250 respectively.
This latest measure was introduced by Regina Doherty, the new Minister for the Department of Social Protection.
Ms Doherty said the Department was earmarking €47.4 million in total for the school clothing allowance, which she acknowledged ‘puts a lot of financial pressure on families throughout the country’.
She said: “The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a nationwide scheme that provides a once-off payment for eligible families to assist with the costs of school clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn.
“This year the Government is providing €47.4 million for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear scheme, an increase of €10 million on the original allocation.”
This comes after Minister for Education Richard Bruton issued a circular in April that obliged schools to allow parents to buy generic uniforms with iron-on or sew-on crests
Allowances will be automatically paid, but parents who are applying for the first time will need to do so with the Department of Social Protection.
Secondary school students aged 18-22 are also eligible.
The deadline for applications is September 30th and you can find more information HERE.
