Families will receive help to meet school uniform costs

LOW-income families have been assured that they will be able to apply from next week for help towards the cost of school uniforms despite delays with the scheme last year.

Almost 140,000 families received help for an estimated 277,713 children in 2009 under the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, at a cost of around €67 million, up significantly on the families of 200,000 children who benefited a year earlier and 180,252 children in 2007, when the total paid out was €40m.

Those households where a social welfare or Health Service Executive (HSE) payment is being made generally qualify for the scheme, as well as those on certain employment schemes or training courses and who have an income below certain levels.