Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

The Minister stated this was an important payment in times of financial strain yet her decision in the budget was to cut it. This is a significant cutback as already many families experience a great deal of debt when their children are returning to school. The increase in recent years was to take account of the increase in the cost of getting children to school, and those costs have not dropped.

The Minister stated she was aware of the Barnardos school costs survey. Barnardos' main spokesperson, Fergus Finlay, a member of the Minister's party, has highlighted regularly the financial stress parents are under and this reduction in the back to school allowance will exacerbate that stress. Does the Minister agree with Barnardos that as a result of this cut more families will go into debt this September? Does she agree also that her cuts, including the cut in the back to school allowance, will deepen child poverty for the remainder of this year and into the future? Will she reinstate this payment to the 2011 level in recognition of the increase in day to day costs?

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