More qualify for back-to-school funds
The figures from the Department of Social Protection show that after the last 6,300 applications are finalised in the coming weeks, more than 185,000 families will have qualified for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.
The cost looks likely to exceed the €63.7m budget by over €1.4m, based on the success rate of applications so far and average payments to date of €350 per family.
“The expenditure when all claims are paid will be close to target,” a department spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.
Schools managers will be questioned by members of the Oireachtas education and social protection committee this morning on back-to-school costs and what can be done to keep them down.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton’s officials had expected that 170,000 families would benefit from the allowance this year. It was paid to 196,000 families at a cost of €91m last year but she announced in last December’s budget the exclusion of pre-school children and a cut in the allowance by 18% to 25%.
Up to last Friday, €63.24m had been paid in respect of about 328,000 children to 179,828 families. The allowance is worth €150 for each primary school pupil (down from €200 a year ago) and €250 for dependent children aged up to 22 in full-time education — €55 less than in 2011.
The families who have received the allowance include 115,350 who were automatically paid €39m in July, having received it last year. The department received 8,800 applications a week during July and 2,000 were received every week last month before the scheme closed on Sept 30.
Of the 79,843 claims processed up to last week, almost 63,000 or over 85% were successful, and 10,796 were refused.
The figures emerge as TDs and senators prepare to quiz school managers on the costs of uniforms, books and other bills faced by families sending children back to class.
The committee chaired by Labour TD Joanna Tuffy will hear submissions from groups representing boards of Catholic and Church of Ireland primary schools, Educate Together, Vocational Education Committees, and An Foras Pátrúnachta.
