Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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557. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost if the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance increased to €170 for children aged between 4-11 years old and €305 for children aged over 12. [33522/25]

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 rates of payment for the 2025 scheme are €160 for children aged between 4 and 11 years and €285 for children aged 12 and over.

Back to School Clothing and Footwear payments totaling €57.04 million were made to 149,510 families in respect of 264,400 qualified children in 2024.

The estimated full year cost if the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance increased to €170 for children aged between 4-11 years old and €305 for children aged over 12, based on the 2024 recipient numbers and expenditure, is €60.86 million i.e. an additional cost of €3.82 million.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.