John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1357. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision to refuse the back-to-school allowance for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed. [45435/25]

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.

In order to qualify for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, one of which requires the applicant’s household income to 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, including Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, gross income from employment, minus employees PRSI and a €20 travel allowance and any other income the household may have.

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

A review of the eligibility to the allowance for the person concerned has been undertaken and their application for the allowance has not been awarded as their household income is in excess of the relevant income limit. Details of the income assessed has been sent to the person concerned.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.

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.