1277. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year costs if the back to school clothing and footwear allowance increased to €175 for children aged between 4-11 years and €305 for children aged over 12. [43845/26]

The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The scheme operates from June to September each year.

In Budget 2026, I was pleased to secure funding from 2026 to extend the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include children aged 2 and 3, for the first time.  It is estimated that an additional 35,000 children will be eligible to receive the payment.  The rates of payment for 2026 are €160 for children aged between 2 and 11 years and €285 for children aged 12 and over.  Funding of €60.4m has been allocated for the scheme in 2026.

Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payments, totalling over €55m, were made to over 144,000 families in respect of more than 256,000 qualified children in 2025.

The estimated full year cost for 2026 if the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance increased to €175 for children aged between 2-11 years old and €305 for children aged over 12, based on the numbers that qualified for the payment in 2025, is €65.9 million i.e. an additional cost of €5.5 million.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.