Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children/families who will qualify automatically for back to school clothing and footwear allowance, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50489/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are returning to full-time second level education and in respect of whom a Child Support payment is being paid.
Each year, through a matching process, families are identified as having an entitlement to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and are awarded the allowance automatically. This year, families were notified of their automatic award before the online application opened on 9 June.
The number of families and children who qualified automatically for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, by county, is set out in tabular form below.
|
County |
Number of families awarded automatically |
Number of children benefiting automatically |
|
Carlow |
1,887 |
3,249 |
|
Cavan |
1,901 |
3,501 |
|
Clare |
2,547 |
4,590 |
|
Cork |
10,644 |
18,410 |
|
Donegal |
5,057 |
9,078 |
|
Dublin |
30,394 |
52,216 |
|
Galway |
5,036 |
9,210 |
|
Kerry |
3,676 |
6,174 |
|
Kildare |
4,651 |
8,197 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,698 |
2,964 |
|
Laois |
2,128 |
3,861 |
|
Leitrim |
960 |
1,693 |
|
Limerick |
5,029 |
8,900 |
|
Longford |
1,542 |
2,892 |
|
Louth |
4,705 |
8,376 |
|
Mayo |
3,256 |
5,919 |
|
Meath |
3,987 |
7,062 |
|
Monaghan |
1,539 |
2,816 |
|
Offaly |
2,112 |
3,720 |
|
Roscommon |
1,492 |
2,830 |
|
Sligo |
1,640 |
2,961 |
|
Tipperary |
4,258 |
7,579 |
|
Waterford |
3,599 |
6,236 |
|
Westmeath |
2,443 |
4,344 |
|
Wexford |
4,608 |
8,026 |
|
Wicklow |
3,229 |
5,505 |
|
Total |
114,018 |
200,309 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
