Sept 2004
€119.5 million funding for back to school expenses
Increased grant aid is available to parents to meet the cost of
school clothing and footwear, Mary Coughlan, Minister for Social
and Family Affairs has said.
She urges parents who may qualify for grants from the enlarged
€119.48 million fund to apply to their local health boards
before the end of September deadline.
In this school year the overall fund has been increased by 10%
on what was paid under the scheme last year. In addition, the income
limits for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance have been
increased by €16.70 per week for a couple and €11.50 per
week for a lone parent on last year's limits.
"The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a targeted
payment which comes at a time when parents' minds naturally turn
to the cost of the new school year. I urge parents, who think they
have an entitlement, to apply for the payment to their local health
board" Minister Coughlan said. "This funding can be a
great help to parents with the cost of school uniforms and footwear
for the new school year. With this in mind, I've approved funding
of €19.48m for this year, an increase of more than €1.76m
on what was paid under the scheme last year." said Minister
Mary Coughlan.
A couple with one child whose weekly income is at or below €348.10
may qualify for the Allowance. A couple with two children whose
weekly income is at or below €367.40 may qualify. If they have
three children they may have income of €386.70 and qualify.
(For families with more children, the income is increased by €19.30
for each additional child).
A lone parent with one child could have income of up to €238.90
per week and qualify for a payment. (For one parent families, with
more than one child, the income is increased by €21.60 for
each additional child.)
Last year, a back to School Clothing and footwear Allowance was
paid in respect of 172,123 children at a cost of €17.72 million;
109,149 were aged between 2 and 11 years, 55,475 were aged between
12 and 17 years and 7,499 were aged between 18 and 22 years.
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