Plans to roll out Back to School Allowance to be discussed by Cabinet
Sources confirmed that Social Protection Dara Calleary will be bringing a memo to government on Tuesday that will extend the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid.
The allowance provides a one-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of clothing and footwear ahead of each new school year.
The rates of payment for the 2025 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme are €160 for children aged up to 11 on or before September 30, 2025 and €285 for children aged between 12 and 22 on or before September 30, 2025. Students aged over 18 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of 2025 to retain an entitlement to the payment.
The Programme for Government committed to rolling out the payment for children in foster care.
It is estimated that up to 2,300 children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid will now qualify for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance under the plan to be progressed by Minister Calleary.
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