Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins, is reminding families that the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be made available again this year, and urged families who are not automatically entitled to make an application before the August deadline.
Senator Hopkins commented, “I am acutely aware of the high costs for families of children returning to school, the support provided through the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance helps parents to meet those costs.”
“In 2015 over 153,000 families with 281,000 children benefited from the payments. The payment rate is €100 for each child aged 4-11 and €200 for children aged 12-22.”
Senator Hopkins continued, “I have spoken with Minister Varadkar and he has advised me that a large proportion of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments will be fully automated and no application form will be required. Letters will be issued in the coming weeks informing families of their entitlements, I expect payments to be made in mid-July.”
Application forms will be available in Department of Social Protection offices, via the Department’s SMS form request service and online at www.welfare.ie from next week.