Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Regarding Senator Cullinane's remarks on section 3, it is one of the charms of being in the Seanad that there are opportunities for erudition which are not often available in the Dáil. It is very welcome to be part of this very detailed debate on these points.

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance provides a one-off payment to eligible families. It is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but to provide assistance towards such costs. As the bulk of families in receipt of the payment are also in receipt of social welfare payments, the Senator will know they receive ¤30 per week per child. The Senator will also know that in addition to what they receive currently, they will receive next year ¤130 per month per child. I make the point in case the Senator is implying that the State does not make other payments to children who are members of families in receipt of social welfare. The State makes extensive payments. If children have a special need, they may also be in receipt of other payments such as the domiciliary care allowance. The State makes, as is proper, an extensive range of payments to children, including additional payments to children with special needs. Approximately ¤63 million was spent on the scheme in 2012 on 185,000 families, including well over 250,000 children. Budget 2013 provides for a reduction in the rate of back to school clothing and footwear allowance from ¤150 to ¤100 for children aged between four and 11 years and from ¤250 to ¤200 for children aged 12 years or more. The proposed rates for 2013 are not intended to meet the full costs for children returning to school but to assist them while there are other significant payments made to parents and from which more than 250,000 children benefitted this year.

The rates of back to school clothing---