Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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306. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that many schools using iPads require payment for the devices by the end of the school year; if he understands that many parents rely on the back to school payments to help towards the payment for devices; if he has considered addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22813/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are returning to full-time second level education and in respect of whom a Child Support payment is being paid.

Last year, Back to School Clothing and Footwear payments totaling €57.04m were made to more than 149,500 families in respect of 264,400 qualified children. It is expected that a similar number will benefit from the scheme this year.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme will be open in June 2025. It is planned, similar to previous years, that the majority of payments under this scheme will be paid without the need of an application. These customers will receive their Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments in July.

Customers, who do not receive a notification to their MyWelfare account or by post regarding the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment by the end of June can apply for the allowance online on . The online application will open in June.

Applications for financial support which fall outside the rules and timeframe of the scheme may be considered for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National Community Welfare Service Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications for an Additional Needs Payment can be made online on www.mywelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.