Back to School Allowance to be issued to over 126,000 families this week

It has been confirmed that over 126,000 families will be receiving the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from today, July 8. 

The payment, which comes from the Department of Social Protection, is designed to support eligible families to help cover the cost of school uniforms and footwear ahead of the upcoming school year.

€160 will be paid out for children aged 4-11 years old. €285 will be paid for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.

In total, payments totalling over €47.5 million will be made this week to over 126,000 families, meaning over 223,000 children will be benefiting from the payment. 

Families will receive a notification by post or through their MyWelfare account for the automated payment. 

Speaking out about these payments, Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce that the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments for 2024 commence from today”.

“This scheme is so important in terms of supporting parents in meeting their back-to-school costs over the coming weeks. This week, my Department will issue automatic payments to over 126,000 families in respect of over 223,000 children”.

Applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will remain open until September 30th and eligible families are being encouraged to apply. 

Humphreys then added, “The costs associated with children both starting and returning to school can put a lot of financial pressure on families throughout the country".

"The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides valuable support to families to assist with these costs and I would urge anybody who has not yet applied to check their eligibility for the scheme”.

As well as the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, Humphreys shared an insight into other supports being provided to families to help with the cost of living in Ireland. 

The Minister explained, “The support that we are providing today is on top of a number of measures that we have introduced in order to support families across the country with the cost of living”.

“These include a major roll-out of the Hot School Meals Programme and the delivering of the Free School Books Scheme. These supports are in addition to the double Child Benefit Payment and increases to the Working Family Payment threshold – which have benefitted tens of thousands of working families”.

“As Minister, I will continue to support working families, who will form a big focus of our Budget negotiations that will take place over the next number of weeks”.