Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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230. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is putting in place to assist parents struggling to meet the financial costs associated with back-to-school clothing and educational supplies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28870/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €44.3 million for this scheme in 2015.

In general, the means tested allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 and between the ages of 18 and 22 in full-time education on or before 30 September 2015 and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid. The rate of payment is €100 in respect of children aged 4 to 11 and €200 for children over 12 years in second level education.

In recent years payments of BSCFA have been automated to a substantial number of qualified persons who are not required to apply for the payment. Over 106,000 customers have been notified of their entitlement to the allowance and payment of the allowance will be made automatically to these customers, in respect of almost 190,000 children, this week ending 17 July 2015. Payments will also issue this week to a further 5,900 families who have applied for and qualified for the scheme.

Customers who did not receive notification of an automated payment are required to complete an application form which is available in all Department offices, via SMS (text FORM BTSCFA followed by name and address to 51909),from the website or by emailing the Department at .

Support in respect of educational supplies is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills.