Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of families expected to be supported under the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance in 2022; when families can apply for this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34930/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.

This year, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment has been increased by €100 for the 2022 scheme year, building on the previously announced increase of €10. The rates of payment for the 2022 scheme year are €260 for children aged between 4 and 11 years and €385 for children aged 12 and over.

The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child increase is in payment. It is also payable for those between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and for whom a qualified child allowance is in payment.

In 2021, 137,168 families in respect of 252,423 children were supported under the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. This year, the income limits for one parent families were increased to bring them in line with the income limits for two parent families, widening the eligibility for that group of customers. The increasing of the income limits is expected to increase the number of families supported by the allowance this year and I expect that in excess of 150,000 families, including those from Ukraine, will benefit from the allowance.

Similar to previous years, the majority of customers have been awarded the allowance automatically and these customers were notified of their award by the 20 June. This year, close to 120,000 families have been approved for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 212,000 qualified children automatically. These families will receive their payments as outlined in their award notifications this week, week beginning 11 July. The additional €100 payment will issue to these families by the end of July.

Customers who have not received notification of an automated payment will need to apply for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance online on www.mywelfare.ie. The online application system has been open since 20 June.

The closing date to apply for this year’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is 30 September 2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for the continued support of family carers who had to give up work to provide care to a disabled, sick or older person voluntarily rather than being made redundant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38526/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of income supports for full-time carers including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.

Carer’s Allowance is the primary income support through which the Department supports carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness, including mental illness. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the means test which applies is satisfied.

In addition, the Department provides a number of non-means tested payments to carers.

The Carers Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).

The Carer's Support Grant is automatically paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care allowance in June of each year. Other carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment may also be eligible for the Grant. The objective of the Carer’s Support Grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers. As part of Budget Measures 2021 the rate of the grant was increased by €150. The new rate of €1,850 came into effect from June 2021. This is the highest rate of the grant since its introduction.

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The Domiciliary Care Allowance rate is €309.50 per month. There is no restriction on the number of children for whom a person may claim Domiciliary Care Allowance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons to date who have availed of the new grant for wigs and hairpieces under the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34839/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In May 2022 my Department introduced a grant to offer help to people who suffer hair loss due to illness. The grant operates under the Treatment Benefit scheme and provides up to €500 for one hairpiece or wig each year. The Scheme is for insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions and their dependent spouse/partner/cohabitant.

A person or their partner / cohabitant who have lost their hair due to some forms of alopecia, cancer or certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, may qualify for the scheme.

To close of business on 7th July 2022, my Department has awarded 183 claims for hairpieces or wigs.