There's very good news for over 100,000 families struggling with the cost of living crisis as the Department of Social Protection has announced the Back to School clothing allowance will be paid early next month. The further good news is that this is an automatic payment - parents can check if they are eligible via the Gov.ie website - and it will be paid out on July 8th this year.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys has said the scheme this year will see: The rate of payment for 2024 is €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education. Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce that the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2024 opens for applications today. “This is a very important scheme within my Department - recognising the financial pressures that many families face in relation to back-to-school costs.
“I’m pleased to confirm that more than 118,000 families – in respect of 207,000 children - will receive the support automatically next month and are currently being notified by my Department. “Anyone who does not receive a notification can contact my Department directly to check their eligibility.” Minister Humphreys also confirmed that under a planned expansion, the Hot School Meals Programme will grow to over 2,000 schools.
“My ambition is that every primary school child in the country will be receiving a hot meal in 2025. This is well ahead of our original targ.