A backlog in processing applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance could mean many families do not receive payments until long after the school year has started.

Due to the large number of applications this year, which has seen over 66,000 forms received, the Department of Social Protection is at least six weeks behind schedule and warned it could take months for the delays to be cleared.

This means it may be October or later before some families receive their payments.

The delays were criticised by Sinn Fein's Education Spokesman Sean Crowe, who said the situation is "simply unacceptable".

He added it is "not good enough" to use the increased number of applications as an excuse, as the government only started dealing with the issue in the second week of July, despite knowing it could only process 1,000 forms a day.

Mr Crowe urged Social Protection Minister Joan Burton to "stop dithering and address this matter urgently".

Delays in receiving payments may be a worry for many parents, as a recent survey by Bank of Ireland and Schooldays.ie revealed half of respondents said they had found it difficult to meet their children's education costs last year.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

Comments