Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
44. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to ensure that any disregards, means testing and income thresholds for secondary benefits including back- to-school clothing and footwear allowance, and national childcare scheme, are automatically raised in line with any core social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15655/26]
View answerThe 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, one of which requires the applicant’s household income to be within the relevant income limits.
The Weekly Household Income Limits for 2025 and 2026 are outlined below:
|
No. of Children |
Income Limit 2025 |
Income Limit 2026 |
|
1 |
€694.00 |
€726.70 |
|
2 |
€756.00 |
€804.70 |
|
3 |
€818.00 |
€882.70 |
|
4 |
€880.00* |
€960.70** |
*Limit was increased by €62 for each additional child in 2025
** Limit is increased by €78 for each additional child in 2026
The household income includes weekly social protection payments, gross income from employment (minus employee's PRSI, auto enrolment contributions and a €20 travel allowance), and any other income the household may have.
Any income from Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Rent Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, Guardian’s Payments, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Blind Welfare Allowance, Foster Care Allowance, Higher Level Education grants, or rehabilitative employment (up to €165 per week) is not assessable.
The weekly household income limits for the 2026 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme have been increased to ensure the increases in weekly social protection payments rates introduced in Budget 2026 will not negatively impact on an individual’s entitlement to the allowance. Also, I was pleased to secure an extension to the scheme in 2026 whereby children aged 2 and 3 can also qualify for the first time this year.
In relation to Fuel Allowance, which is also a secondary benefit, the means thresholds are increased each year in line with the increase applied to the State Pension Contributory (SPC). In 2026, the rate of SPC increased by €10.00 per week to €299.30, and the income limits for Fuel Allowance for 2026 increased accordingly.
The National Childcare Scheme is administered by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
