Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of the considerable financial burden the cost of school tablets imposes on parents; if he will consider expanding the back-to-school payment or introducing a device allowance for children attending schools that require tablets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33102/25]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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The issue of having to purchase devices is coming into my office a lot. It is probably coming into everyone's office at this stage. While obviously there is a benefit to parents of not having to buy schoolbooks, that benefit is entirely undermined if they then have to spend the equivalent amount or more. I welcome the Minister's recent announcement of the extension of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to foster families, but they will be means tested for it, which will exclude a lot. I know I am tacking that onto the end of my question but I am sure the Minister will not mind and that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will indulge me.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I do not mind at all. The back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off annual payment to eligible families to assist with the cost of clothing and footwear when children start or start back at school each autumn.

Last year, the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance payments totalled €57.04 million. This was paid to more than 149,500 families in respect of 264,400 qualified children. The majority of families are awarded the allowance automatically. A notification of the awards is issued to these families. In 2025, 114,000 families have been automatically approved for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, in respect of 197,000 qualified children. Payments will begin to be made in the week commencing 14 July. I encourage anybody who has not heard or got a notification to go to MyWelfare.ie and to register their interest or concern.

Matters relating to devices in schools is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee. She is keenly aware of the challenges faced by parents and educators relating to the costs of digital technology, including tablets. Her Department is continuing to work to help support schools and families with these costs. The Minister recently announced a €35 million investment in schools for ICT infrastructure. This funding is issued directly to schools, as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort to meet those requirements in accordance with their digital learning planning. This can include the purchase of ICT devices, such as tablets or laptops and the implementation of loan schemes for same if needed. At this time, I have no plans to change the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to include a specific device payment.

I welcome the Deputy's expression of welcome for the expansion of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to foster families. It is means tested. However, the means test will exclude the weekly payment of €400 that is paid as the foster allowance. We are currently reviewing every means test. Means tests are important to ensure that supports go to those most in need of them income-wise. I wish to re-emphasise that the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance means test will exclude the €400 or €420 per week payment to foster families.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I understand the need to get the money to where it needs to be. With the greatest of respect, the Minister does not need to do a review to understand that kids who are in foster care are among the most likely to be experiencing deprivation. They are effectively in the care of the State. I urge the Minister to look at that again because the means test is unfair. We are not talking in the context of a large budget. We are not talking about a large amount of money. I understand that big budgets are made up of many small asks.

In the last couple of days, I read in the newspaper that some of the Minister's colleagues are saying that the cost-of-living crisis is over. Good luck with that project as they go out to their clinics because it is not. Families are being put to the pin of their collar. I know of organisations and companies that are offering buy now and pay later terms. That is families having to get themselves into debt just so their kids can go to school. This goes completely against the principle of the back-to-school allowance. It has now been superseded by the need to purchase devices. I urge the Minister to have a discussion with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, but the money will come from the Minister, Deputy Calleary's Department. It will be the extent to which that the Minister can champion this that it will be done.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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On the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance for foster families, it was an anomaly that foster children could not qualify for this scheme. This was even to the extent that there could be foster children and other children within a family. Some of the children would have qualified and the foster children would not. I have corrected that anomaly. There are means tests, however, across all our schemes. I do not want to correct an anomaly by creating another. I understand the extraordinary role played by foster parents. I look forward to working to continue to enhance conditions.

In the context of that big budgets are made up of small asks, I will use that a lot if the Deputy does not mind. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy McEntee. She is conscious of this. We have had discussions. As the Deputy said, the cost-of-living crisis is also affecting clothing and footwear. That is a massive expense on families at this time of year, particularly as children go back to school and if schools are demanding particular kinds of uniforms. I wish to make sure the money, which is relatively small, is directed at that cohort at this time.

We have made huge investment in school books. My Department has made huge investment in school meals. We are focused on trying to improve the experience of children in education, but my Department cannot continue being the Department that everybody comes to looking for assistance.