Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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325. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the appropriate payment available to a person (details supplied) previously in receipt of the one parent family allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37165/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment at the maximum statutory rate for an adult and two qualifying children. The person concerned submitted medical certs but is not entitled to an illness benefit payment as he does not satisfy the qualifying criteria in the governing contribution year.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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326. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person in low paid employment can qualify for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37168/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) is a non-statutory scheme which provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn. BSCFA payments have issued to over 150,000 families in 2016 at a cost of over €39 million.

A person may qualify for payment of BSCFA in respect of a qualified child if they are in receipt of a qualifying payment, or participating in an approved employment scheme, or attending a recognised education and training course, and have household income at or below certain set levels. BSCFA qualifying payments that support low income working families include family income supplement and the back to work family dividend.

Further information is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.