Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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261. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to the 2012 rate. [30246/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme (BSCFA) provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €46.3 million for the scheme in 2014.

In 2013, approximately 176,000 families, in respect of approximately 324,000 children were assisted under the scheme. It is estimated that the cost to restore the 2012 rates for the current year would be approximately €15.5 million in respect of qualifying children aged 4 to 18 years or over attending secondary school.