John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will increase the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in view of the findings of a recent survey carried out by an organisation, details supplied, showing the cost of sending one child to secondary school at almost €800 and, therefore, acknowledge that this payment is not sufficient in meeting these costs. [18817/16]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister might be aware that last year, as in most years, Barnardos carried out its annual back to school costs survey, which found that the cost of sending one child to primary school had risen to €390 and the cost of sending one child to secondary school had risen to €785.

The current rates of payment under the back to school clothing and footwear allowance do not cover the actual cost of sending children back to school. Is the Minister aware of the survey carried out by Barnardos every year? Will he acknowledge that the payment is grossly insufficient to meet demands? Will he consider increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. It is not intended to cover the entire cost of going back to school, but, rather, to give parents a helping hand. It is not intended to cover items other than clothing and footwear. Up to €38.8 million has been made available for the scheme this year, which is designed to assist people to meet the costs of going back to school.

The majority of payments, approximately 109,000 families for 193,000 children, will be paid in the week ending 15 July 2016 with no application form required. Customers who have not been notified of an automated payment should make a written application to the Department of Social Protection. The payment rates are €100 in respect of eligible children aged four to 11 and €200 for children aged 12 to 22.

The survey referred to by the Deputy was undertaken by Barnardos in 2015 and indicated that on average, parents pay approximately €100 to €115 for a primary school pupil’s uniform and €195 for a secondary school. I met Barnardos yesterday and this was one of the items we discussed. The survey also showed the average cost of school shoes are approximately €50 to €55 for primary and €60 for secondary school students. The results showed a reduction in uniform costs from 2014 to 2015 for all pupils. The survey also found a reduction in foot wear costs for primary school children, with these costs static for secondary school children.

The figure quoted by the Deputy of almost €800 for secondary school pupils included the cost of school books, for which the Department of Education and Skills has a scheme, classroom resources and voluntary contributions. The cost of clothing and footwear amounted to just one third of this overall cost.

Any changes to the scheme to increase the payment amounts would have to be considered in the context of the budget.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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It is important to point out that the Government actually cut the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in two consecutive budgets. In 2011, it was cut from €200 to €150 and then subsequently to its current level of €100. For older children, parents receive €200, when in 2011 they received €305 which was cut to €250 and then to the current rate. There is no consideration given to all the additional costs in sending children back to school, which the Minister outlined in his response.

Another major concern facing many people and precluding them from applying for this grant is the thresholds set for it. With the rate of inflation growing annually, many families find themselves locked out of the grant, even if they are marginally over the rates set. Will he review the income thresholds with a view to changing them?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Yes, the Deputy is correct. The payment was cut twice by the Fine Gael-Labour Government, of which I was a member. Yes, I will be considering the rules around the scheme and the amounts paid in the context of the budget. However, I cannot make any commitments on the budget now.

Speaking of Governments, the Deputy’s party has been a member of the Government in Northern Ireland for quite some time. In case the Deputy does not know, the school uniform allowance in Northern Ireland comes to £35.75, or €44, for primary school children. For secondary school children it is between £73 and £78, or €88 and €95. The back to school allowance in Northern Ireland, where the Deputy’s party has been in government for a long time, is less than half what it is here. If there is a Border poll in the North, one of the strongest arguments for people to vote for Irish unity is so they can have a Fine Gael Government, in which case they will do much better than they do under Sinn Féin.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Minister should not forget the Independents.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Fine Gael would have to start acting like an all-Ireland party, which clearly it is not. Maybe it should start having people contesting elections in the Six Counties. Then we can see how popular, or unpopular, Fine Gael is there.

I recently received a telephone call from a concerned parent in my constituency whose children’s school has brought in iPads. While it is welcome in many regards, it means significant expense for families. The costs of iPads, insurance costs, etc., can bring an additional €700 expense for families. None of this is taken into consideration.

I welcome the fact the Minister will review some of the measures around this. However, the Government cut the payments. He will have to acknowledge they are far too low. They need to be brought back up to appropriate levels. Will the Minister also seek to have the income threshold reviewed?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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No one doubts the enormous cost of sending a kid to school every year. In the context of the budget and as part of the package for children in families, we will be looking at measures to make it more affordable, whether it is increases in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance or more assistance with school meals and school books schemes, which arguably could be more targeted. As an all-island party, Sinn Féin could make bringing welfare rates in Northern Ireland up to the level they are here a priority.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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The cost of living is different for a start, so it is not a case of comparing like with like.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister without interruption.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I know the Deputy does not want to hear this but the cost of living is not half what it is here. It may be lower but it is not half. One action Sinn Féin can take to prove it is an all-Ireland party is to commit itself and its Democratic Unionist Party coalition partners to increase welfare rates to what they are in the Republic of Ireland, rather than prioritising the reduction of corporation tax to what it is here.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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It might be better if the Minister took responsibility for his portfolio here and started addressing the huge anomalies in this State.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy’s question is finished.