Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the anomaly in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme which bars a lone parent from receiving the benefits; and the action being taken to treat all parents receiving the BSCFA equally. [21686/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Lone parents are not barred from receiving back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA). 40% of all BSCFA payments are made to lone parents, benefiting more than 30,000 lone parent households.

The 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. Lone parents or couples 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 income limits for the BSCFA take account of household size and are increased each year. Income Limits for 2007 are: