According to the Irish Independent, the Department of Social Protection has set aside an extra €4.6m this year to help families buy clothes and shoes for the new school term. The Department expects that there will be an increase in the number of children needing help this year and also highlights the rising number of children starting second-level education. Secondary school pupils qualify for the higher rate payment of €305 for those aged 12-22 instead of the €200 payment for children aged 2-11.

A new automated system has been introduced this year which means that payments for to those eligible for assistance with back-to-school costs will issue automatically. Already 127,000 of an expected 160,000 families have received the payment.

Comments