Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the weekly household income limit for back to school clothing and footwear allowance was last increased. [50380/25]

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.

To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions, namely:

• The child must meet the age criteria,
• The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September,
• The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits,
• The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people who will receive an increase in their carer's allowance payment when the changes to the means test takes effect in July 2025, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50466/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is available in my press release dated 03 July 2025 announcing the significant improvements to the Carer's Allowance means test. All Department of Social Protection press releases are available at www.gov.ie/dsp.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of families who have benefitted from the newborn baby grant since it was introduced, by county; if he has any plans to review the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50467/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Child Benefit becomes payable in respect of newborn babies in the month after their birth, subject to the qualifying conditions.

As part of Budget 2025, a new-born baby grant of €280 was introduced. This is paid to families of babies born, or children with a date of placement, on or after 1 December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140.

The table below outlines a breakdown by county of the number of new-born baby grants paid or payable up to 2nd September 2025.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.