Over €1.7 Million available for families in Meath in Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

4,538 families in Meath will receive €1,765,745 from the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from today.

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has announced that over 126,000 families nationwide will receive over €48.8 million in payments for over 233,000 children.

Fianna Fáil TD for Meath West, and Spokesperson on Children, Aisling Dempsey, has welcomed the payment for Meath families.

The scheme has been extended this year to include children aged 2 and 3 for the first time. As a result of this extension, it is estimated that approximately 37,000 additional children will qualify for the allowance this year.

The rates of payment for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are €160 for children aged 4 to 11, and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.

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.

Deputy Dempsey said:

"I am acutely aware of the financial struggle families across County Meath are facing, particularly in the months where children are getting ready to begin a new school year.

"This scheme will help alleviate some of the stress parents face, meaning they don’t have to worry about where the money will come from to pay for new school uniforms at the start of each year."

The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is open for applications until the 30th of September, and eligible families are being encouraged to apply. A notification of the automated payment is sent to families by post or through their MyWelfare account.

Concluding Deputy Dempsey said:

"I along with my Fianna Fáil colleagues in Government will support further targeted and sustainable measures in the upcoming Budget that focus on bringing down the high cost of living for families."