Calls on Minister Varadkar to raise back to school payment

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has refused to commit to increasing the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance.

The Dáil heard that the payment is now “grossly insufficient”.

Sinn Féin’s John Brady urged Mr Varadkar to increase the allowance and said a Barnardos survey showed the cost of sending one child to primary school had risen to €390, while at second level it had risen to €785.