Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will extend the back to school payment to single parents on a community employment scheme as they are currently excluded from this secondary benefit by an income limit which fails to recognise the cost of child care which now prevails. [19897/07]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the income limits for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance seem to discriminate against lone parent families as the income limits are higher for families with two parents or two partner families; his views on increasing or revising the limit upwards for lone parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20254/07]

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will raise the current income disregard for lone parents employed on the community employment scheme to enable them to qualify for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in view of the fact that at present a couple is allowed to earn €470.80 and qualify for BSCFA, while a lone parent on a CE scheme will not qualify as the limit is €331.30; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20549/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 575, 595 and 601 together.

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. The allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment or Health Service Executive (HSE) payment, are participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income at or below certain set levels. The Community Employment (CE) scheme is included, among others, as one of the qualifying payments for the purposes of the BSCFA scheme. Income from CE schemes is assessed as earnings for the purposes of all Social Welfare means tested payments, including Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

The income limits for the BSCFA scheme for 2007 are based on the maximum rate of State Pension (contributory) (under 80) plus €100 in the case of married and cohabiting couples; and the maximum rate of Widow's/Widower's Contributory Pension (under 80) plus €100 for Lone Parents, plus child dependant allowance in each case. Income Limits for 2007 are:

The limit is increased by €22.00 for each additional child in each case. There is no question of discriminating against lone parent families. The rationale for the different income limits for lone parents and couples is to take account of the fact that there is an extra adult in the couple household who has to be provided for. The income limit for couples reflects this.

Participants in a CE scheme are assessed under the standard rules for BSCFA. The weekly income limit for a single person with one child is €331.30. This limit increases by €22 for each eligible child. A person who has income both from one-parent family payment and CE will not qualify for BSCFA on means grounds. However, a person in these circumstances is still significantly better off for having taken up a CE place.

A single parent may earn up to €146.50 per week and still qualify for the full payment of one parent family payment; and may qualify at a reduced rate if their earnings are between €146.50 and €400 per week. For example, a lone parent with one child is approximately €195 per week better off on taking up a CE place (equivalent to €10,140 per annum), while a lone parent with two children is some €207 per week better off (equivalent to €10,764 per annum).

Any changes to the current income limits for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme would have cost implications and would have to be considered in a budget context and in the light of the resources available to me for improvements in social welfare generally.