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7,622 Midlands Families To Receive Enhanced Back to School Allowance This Week

Monday, 10 July 2023 11:45

Applications for the allowance remain open until September 30th.

Over 7,500 midlands families are set to benefit from an extra €100 in Back to School Allowance.

The payment will provide over €72 million to support over 131,000 eligible families, nationally, with the cost of school uniforms and footwear.

€260 will be paid this week, in respect of children aged 4-11 years old and €385 for children aged 12 years and over, in second level education.

2,859 families in Westmeath will receive the payment, followed by 2,394 in Laois and 2,369 in Offaly.

Applications for the allowance remain open until September 30th.

Minister Humphreys announced the beginning of the payments during a visit to the family-run Lennon & Sons Drapery in Cootehill, County Cavan.

Speaking during the visit, she said:

“I’m pleased to announce that from today, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid to over 131,000 families right across the State. This payment has been increased by €100 per child this year in recognition of the ongoing cost of living pressures that families face. The Scheme itself is extremely important in terms of easing that financial burden associated with the purchase of uniforms and shoes ahead of the new school term. The payments will be received in people’s bank accounts from today. However, any family that has not yet applied has plenty of time to do so as applications remain open until September 30th.”

Minister Humphreys continued:

“As a Government we are deeply conscious of the need to continue to support families with the Cost of Living. That’s why last month, I announced an extra €100 per every child in receipt of Child Benefit. Minister Norma Foley is spearheading the free school books scheme, which kicks in for primary schools from September. And I’m delighted as well to be able to continue the expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme. The expansion of the programme to all DEIS primary schools and special schools will mean by the end of this year, 1,000 schools will have access to hot school meal funding. And from 2024, we will start the roll-out of Hot Meals to all remaining primary schools.”

Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, and Green Party Offaly Senator Pippa Hackett says:

"The €100 increase in the  Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a welcome measure to ensure that increased prices do not negatively impact on families managing back to school costs this summer. Eligible families will begin to receive this payment into their bank accounts from today. It is worth restating that the scheme remains open until September 30th and I encourage all who believe they may be eligible to apply."

County

  

Total Number of Recipients (families) Awarded

  

Carlow

  

2,238

  

Cavan

  

2,248

  

Clare

  

3,169

  

Cork

  

12,505

  

Donegal

  

6,115

  

Dublin

  

33,650

  

Galway

  

5,994

  

Kerry

  

4,583

  

Kildare

  

5,264

  

Kilkenny

  

2,119

  

Laois

  

2,394

  

Leitrim

  

1,062

  

Limerick

  

5,852

  

Longford

  

1,723

  

Louth

  

5,207

  

Mayo

  

3,870

  

Meath

  

4,681

  

Monaghan

  

1,806

  

Offaly

  

2,369

  

Roscommon

  

1,703

  

Sligo

  

1,897

  

Tipperary

  

4,782

  

Waterford

  

4,157

  

Westmeath

  

2,859

  

Wexford

  

5,348

  

Wicklow

  

3,695

  

Total

  

131,288

  

 

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