Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, Chair. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is a very serious issue. The allowance is given to parents for the benefit of children. Yesterday on Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill, I asked the Minister if it would be possible to provide the allowance in voucher form to allow parents to use vouchers in a range of shops for clothing and footwear. Anecdotally, I hear the money is frequently not used on children.