Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the income limits for the back-to-school allowance to include persons living on only payments from his department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27319/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The current upper income limit for eligibility for a back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, BSCFA, for a couple with one child is €368.10 per week. The household income limits under the scheme are indexed each year in line with the contributory old age pension rate in the case of couples, or widow/er contributory pension in the case of lone parent applicants. Applicants are eligible for BSCFA if their household income is not more that €50 above the relevant reference pension rates. The western area of the Health Service Executive, which administers the scheme on my behalf, has advised that it disallowed an application for a BSCFA by the person concerned as her household income was above the limit for eligibility. This household income is derived from a carer's allowance in payment to the person concerned and a disability allowance payable to her husband, amounting to €387.40 in total. The person concerned appealed this decision but the original decision was upheld by the executive's appeals office. I am keeping the qualifying conditions for the BSCFA under review and the particular issue raised by the Deputy will be considered in that context. Further change in the BSCFA eligibility conditions, apart for the normal indexation, would have to be considered in the context of the budget.