187,000 families get help with back-to-school costs

More than 187,000 families received payments to help with back-to-school costs last year under a scheme that will be cut by €50 per child next year.

The €50 reduction in Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance rates will see the overall spend on the scheme cut almost in half in just two years, with parents getting between 34% and 50% less than what was paid two years ago for each child.

A €90m spend in 2011 fell to just €66m last year, after the rates were cut and around 40,000 children excluded, but the bill will drop below €50m next year.