Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the scale of payments under the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance; the equivalent figures for each county in 2020; the expected further increase in the numbers of recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46220/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) 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 Budget 2026, I was pleased to secure funding for 2026 to extend the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include children aged 2 and 3, for the first time. It is estimated that an additional 35,000 children aged 2 and 3 will be eligible to receive the payment in 2026.
The rates of payment for 2026 are €160 for children aged between 2 and 11 years and €285 for children aged 12 and over. Funding of €60.4m has been allocated for the scheme in 2026.
The records of my Department indicate that the number of recipients and expenditure per county for 2020 and 2025 are as outlined in the table below:
|
|
2020 |
2020 |
2025 |
2025 |
|
County |
No. of families benefitting |
Expenditure |
No. of families benefitting |
Expenditure |
|
Carlow |
2590 |
€1,007,230.00 |
2,456 |
€910,715.00 |
|
Cavan |
2623 |
€1,051,415.00 |
2,517 |
€1,006,395.00 |
|
Clare |
3172 |
€1,265,120.00 |
3,126 |
€1,232,005.00 |
|
Cork |
13615 |
€5,324,805.00 |
13,527 |
€5,109,180.00 |
|
Donegal |
6480 |
€2,710,970.00 |
6,561 |
€2,597,595.00 |
|
Dublin |
36560 |
€13,986,525.00 |
37,125 |
€13,817,680.00 |
|
Galway |
6598 |
€2,736,115.00 |
6,467 |
€2,595,175.00 |
|
Kerry |
4322 |
€1,668,180.00 |
4,683 |
€1,720,830.00 |
|
Kildare |
6134 |
€2,462,775.00 |
5,984 |
€2,296,435.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
2446 |
€934,085.00 |
2,220 |
€849,385.00 |
|
Laois |
2858 |
€1,165,710.00 |
2,789 |
€1,104,740.00 |
|
Leitrim |
1080 |
€445,065.00 |
1,197 |
€472,680.00 |
|
Limerick |
6476 |
€2,538,395.00 |
6,499 |
€2,504,095.00 |
|
Longford |
1964 |
€810,200.00 |
2,021 |
€821,140.00 |
|
Louth |
5465 |
€2,212,570.00 |
5,929 |
€2,291,080.00 |
|
Mayo |
4033 |
€1,673,660.00 |
4,194 |
€1,671,740.00 |
|
Meath |
5269 |
€2,011,330.00 |
5,202 |
€1,997,565.00 |
|
Monaghan |
2074 |
€853,210.00 |
2,109 |
€850,130.00 |
|
Offaly |
2799 |
€1,077,320.00 |
2,746 |
€1,053,420.00 |
|
Roscommon |
1836 |
€766,775.00 |
1,956 |
€819,400.00 |
|
Sligo |
1901 |
€756,430.00 |
2,034 |
€803,020.00 |
|
Tipperary |
5405 |
€2,122,090.00 |
5,476 |
€2,105,085.00 |
|
Waterford |
4468 |
€1,704,380.00 |
4,483 |
€1,699,490.00 |
|
Westmeath |
3182 |
€1,267,625.00 |
3,146 |
€1,225,170.00 |
|
Wexford |
6022 |
€2,330,725.00 |
5,907 |
€2,264,225.00 |
|
Wicklow |
3952 |
€1,487,610.00 |
4,040 |
€1,501,920.00 |
The rates of payment in 2020 were €150 for children aged between 4 and 11 years and €275 for children aged 12 and over, and in 2025, the rates of payment were €160 for children aged between 4 and 11 years and €285 for children aged 12 and over.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
