A record number of parents have applied for the school footwear and uniform allowance this year, with payments set to total over 90 million euros.

The Irish Examiner reports the Department for Social Protection expects to process claims from nearly 200,000 families for 390,000 children, with the large volume meaning some applications were yet to be approved before Christmas.

Demand for the scheme has been so great it is now projected to cost around 10 million euros more than previously predicted.

Earlier this month, the department confirmed the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance is to be cut next year, with parents of children aged 12 and older seeing their grant drop from 305 euros to 250 euros, while pupils aged four to 11 will see a reduction of 50 euros, to 150 euros.

Chief executive of Barnados Fergus Finlay expressed disappointment at this move, at a time when many families are struggling financially.

"Many schools need to stop insisting on parents using certain suppliers and buying hugely more expensive uniforms that they really can't afford," he said.

Other plans included in this month's budget will see the cost of school transport double for primary school pupils.

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