John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on making changes to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme whereby families who might meet the income guidelines but are not in receipt of a social welfare payment would be eligible from this scheme. [20940/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme (BSCFA) operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year and is administered on behalf of my Department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Applications for the allowance may be made between the beginning of June and the end of September each year.

A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment or Health Service Executive 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 scheme is specifically targeted at people on social welfare or Health Service Executive payments as they are most in need of support.

Persons on low incomes who are in receipt of family income supplement may be also eligible for BSCFA if they satisfy the means test and the other standard conditions. A person who satisfies the income test for BSCFA will also satisfy the income test for Family Income Supplement. A person in these circumstances whose income derives from employment and who is not in receipt of a social welfare payment may qualify for BSCFA once they claim family income supplement. If their income is such that they qualify for BSCFA, they will qualify for both family income supplement and BSCFA.

I expect some 82,000 households with over 174,000 children to benefit under the scheme this year at an estimated cost of some €38.1m. This is an increase on the 2006 figures when 80,000 families with just over 161,400 children benefited at a cost of €23.5m.