Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school. The survey to which the Deputy refers is a survey of the cost of sending a child to school which is not directly comparable. In 2011, more than 196,000 individuals received a back to school clothing and footwear allowance payment in respect of 384,000 children at a cost of almost €91 million. A means test is applied to the scheme to ensure that limited resources are directed to those in greatest need ensuring maximum value for money.

As a budgetary measure, the allowance payable was reduced from €305 to €250 for children aged from 12 to 22 and from €200 to €150 for children aged from four to 11 years for the 2012 scheme. No payment is being made with regard to children aged two or three years because they do not go to school. Despite these reductions, the current payment rates still show significant increases since 2006 and compare favourably when viewed in the context of clothing and footwear price trends over the same period. It is estimated that in 2012 some 340,000 children will benefit from the scheme at these lower rates.

According to the consumer price index for November 2011, the overall cost of clothing and footwear has fallen by 27.2% since December 2006. Since 2006, payment rates for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme have increased by 87% for those under 11 years of age and by 31% for those over 11 years of age.

I consider the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme to be an important support for parents at a time of particular financial strain. I am satisfied the changes to the scheme in recent years, in particular the scheme improvements relative to the consumer price index trends, are still providing a major boost to meeting the financial costs associated with returning to school.

Although there has been a decrease in the rates of payment for this year, by maintaining the same income limits, which have increased significantly in recent years, I have ensured the back to school clothing and footwear allowance payment is targeted at those most in need of assistance.

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