Requests for school return cost funds fall

There were almost 9,000 fewer applications for back- to-school clothing and footwear allowance this year than 12 months ago, despite rising concerns about education costs for families.

The Department of Social Protection has cut the amounts it pays by €50 per child this year, but has a budget of almost €50m for the scheme.

After the last of the country’s 4,000 primary and second-level schools opened this week, there are now 600 applications arriving each day to the department’s Letterkenny office handling the claims.