David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I welcome that payment, for which we have been pushing for some time on this side of the House. Will the Minister state when the NESC was first asked to report on this matter and when he expects to receive its report? Has he given any indication on the extension of the deadline for the back to school clothing and footwear grant, which is part of the second tier payment, to closer to Christmas instead of the end of September, which is tight time-wise? It would make a major difference to people if he moved it forward. It would not cost anything extra but would give poorer people some extra breathing space.

When was the NESC asked to carry out this report? When will the Minister receive the report? Has there been an interim report? Will there be an extension of the deadline for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance?

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