Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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1327. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider waiving the means test on foster care families (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44606/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1339. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for clarification in relation to back-to-school allowance which does not appear to encompass all children for whom foster care allowance as the understanding is that it is means-tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44949/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1340. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that means-testing, actual or prospective of the back-to-school allowance is misaligned (details supplied). [44950/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1352. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will extend the back-to-school allowance to all children in State care by removing means testing for foster families, including the requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, in recognition of children's rights under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, and to ensure they are not discriminated against based on civil or family status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45248/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1327, 1339, 1340 and 1352 together.

This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. That is why I was really pleased to announce extending eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid on the same basis as all other eligible families.

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.

In order to qualify for Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, including the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and the applicant’s household income must be within the relevant income limits. The income limits for the scheme are increased annually as part of the budget process.

The Weekly Household Income Limits for 2025 are:

The household income includes weekly social protection payments, gross income from employment, minus employees PRSI and a €20 travel allowance and any other income the household may have.

Any income from Foster Care Allowance, Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Rent Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, Guardian’s Payments, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Blind Welfare Allowance and Higher-Level Education grants is not assessable. Rehabilitative employment (up to €165 per week) is also not assessable.

It is expected some 2,300 children in foster care will now be eligible for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and I encourage foster care families to apply for the allowance.

Any proposed changes to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme would have to be considered in a wider budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.