Parents of school age children who qualify for the back to school allowance are to receive an additional €100 per child in order to meet school expenses.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BTSCFA) will be paid automatically from this Monday to eligible families, with the increased amount being paid from August. People who may qualify for the allowance but did not receive a letter in June about the payment can apply for the grant online.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has criticised the payment as being insufficient and has called for the allowance to be offered to middle income households.
Read more: How to apply for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
“The back to school allowance must be extended to allow middle income families who do not qualify for any state help. For low income families the rate of the allowance must be increased. Action on this is urgent as government cannot leave families struggling,” the opposition leader said on Twitter.
The allowance will now provide parents of children aged 4-11 with a €260 payment as opposed to €160, while parents of students in a recognised secondary school will now receive €385 for school costs.
Ukrainian families who have moved to Ireland as a result of the ongoing war will automatically qualify for the payment. School books are the most expensive item for students in second level, while uniforms fall just after extra- curricular activities as the most costly aspect of primary school, according to research published by the Irish League of Credit Unions. (ILCU)
The ILCU also said that almost a third of Irish families are running into debt as a result of demanding back to school costs. Their annual survey revealed that over two thirds of families find uniform and book fees impact on their finances each year.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys launched the scheme at the end of last month and applications for the payment are to remain open until September 30.
“My department will process and issue automatic payments to some 120,000 families in July and I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme,” the Minister said in a statement.
Further information regarding the Back to School Allowance can be viewed here.
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