Burton blames delay in school aid payments on jobless surge

SOCIAL Protection Minister Joan Burton has blamed a surge in unemployment numbers on a lengthy delay in processing children’s and footwear allowances.

Thousands of families now look set to have to wait until October — after the school year begins — before welfare payments for children’s clothes are delivered by her department.

The news has prompted the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) to warn that the delay will see children going into classrooms without the appropriate clothing.