1,062 Leitrim families to receive Enhanced Back to School Allowance this week 

Over 1,062 Leitrim families are set to benefit from the Enhanced Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. 

Due to the ongoing cost of living pressures facing families, the Department of Social Protection announced a €100 increase per child in the allowance. 

Enhanced Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will provide €72 million to support over 131,000 families and over 231,000 children across the country.  

The allowance paid for each eligible child aged 4 - 11 years is €260, while an allowance of €385 is paid for each eligible child aged 12 - 22 years on or before September 30, 2023. 

Students aged between 18 - 22 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of 2023 to retain an entitlement to payment.

Deputy Frank Feighan has said that a notification of the automated payment is sent to customers by post or through their MyWelfare account, and the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance remains open for applications until September 30, and eligible families are being encouraged to apply.

“The payment from the Department of Social Protection is designed to support eligible families with the cost of school uniforms and footwear ahead of the upcoming school term. Decisions on these cases will be processed manually, and if entitled, payment will be issued once they are processed.”, he said. 

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys explained that the scheme is significant in easing the financial burden associated with the purchase of uniforms and shoes ahead of the new school term. 

Deputy Feighan added that the Fine Gael in Government is deeply conscious of the need to continue to support families with the Cost of Living. “That’s why last month, we announced an extra €100 per child in receipt of Child Benefit. Also, the free school books scheme will kick in for primary schools from September”, he said. 

“I’m delighted as well to be able to continue the expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme. The continuing expansion of the Hot School Meals 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.

“From 2024, we will start the roll-out of Hot Meals to all remaining primary schools,” he added.