Record number of back-to-school grant applications

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) is dealing with a record number of applications for the back-to-school grant.

The payments available range from €200 for children up to 11 and €305 for children between 12 and 17 years old or for dependent children aged 18 to 22 who are in full-time education.

A new measure introduced this year gives families a total payment of €520 for 18-year-olds for whom only the half rate of child benefit is paid out.