Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

A promotional campaign undertaken last June while children were still in school suggested that people should purchase early. There is always a danger whereby people who get money and, instead of spending it on a uniform, use it for a holiday during the summer months may find themselves being stuck in August or September. The scheme is available from June to the end of September, but we promoted it in June and August. I will examine the take-up levels in those months. Many people only start to focus closer to the time.

I anticipate that many more people will apply for the scheme next year, when our spending on it will have increased to €39 million. The 18 year olds in respect of whom child benefit payments will no longer be made will instead receive €520 in compensation if they are in education. This will push costs up, but I welcome the fact that more people will be able to benefit from the scheme during a particularly difficult time for families next year.

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