Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for payment in respect of the family income supplement scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25303/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Family Income Supplement (FIS) is calculated on the basis of 60% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the net income of the person(s) raising the child(ren). Net income for FIS purposes comprises total family income less tax, employee PRSI, universal social charge and pension contributions. I can confirm that the person concerned has a been approved for and is being paid FIS in respect of a family of 5 children. A deduction of €25.00 per week is however being made from this weekly entitlement, in repayment of an outstanding overpayment of One Parent Family Payment incurred by the partner of the person concerned.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25311/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme operates from the beginning of June until the end of September each year. The administrative arrangements for the 2011 BSCFA scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of BSCFA entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. 127,000 households in respect of over 250,000 children received their payment automatically in June.

Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete and return an application form to the Department. The timescale for determining applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance claims is dependent on a number of factors including: the number of applications received, when the application is lodged, the availability of the required information such as details of the applicant's income, bank statements and other relevant information regarding an individual's application.

In addition, some aspects of the applications are inevitably time consuming and delays can occur where further investigations or third party evidence is required. Delays can also arise if the applicant is slow to respond to requests for additional information. Staff are working as quickly as possible on clearing the large volume of manual application claims received. Departmental records show that an application form was received from the person concerned on 15th July 2011. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of her claim when an assessment of her entitlements has been completed.