Extra €4.6m set aside for parents struggling to afford uniforms [Independent.ie]
- Published: 03 August 2011
THE Department of Social Protection has set aside an extra €4.6m this year to help families buy clothes and shoes for the new school term.
That is because they expect a surge in the number of applications for social welfare benefits to fund back-to-school costs.
About 160,000 families are expected to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance this summer ahead of the start of the new school year in September.
In 2009, there were 140,000 applications for the allowance.
The Department of Social Protection has confirmed to the Irish Independent that one reason for the allocation of extra funding to the clothing and footwear allowance is to cover a projected increase in the number of children needing help.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
