Ruth Coppinger
Question:242. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection to extend the back to school allowance to all children in State care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54309/25]
View answerThursday, 9 October 2025
Questions (242, 245)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:245. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the back to school allowance to all children in state care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54336/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 245 together.
This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. That is why I was really pleased to announce extending eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid.
The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
In order to qualify for Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, including the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and the applicant’s household income must be within the relevant income limits. The income limits for the scheme are increased annually as part of the budget process.
The weekly household income limits for 2025 are:
|
No. of Children |
Income Limit |
|
1 child |
€694.00 |
|
2 children |
€756.00 |
|
3 children |
€818.00 |
|
4 children* |
€880.00 |
* Limit is increased by €62 for each additional child.
The household income includes weekly social protection payments, gross income from employment, minus employees PRSI and a €20 travel allowance and any other income the household may have.
Any income from Foster Care Allowance, Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Rent Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, Guardian’s Payments, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Blind Welfare Allowance and Higher-Level Education grants is not assessable. Rehabilitative employment (up to €165 per week) is also not assessable.
Any proposed changes to the scheme would have to be considered in a wider budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.