Back to school allowance

2022 - 7 - 4

Back-to-school costs being examined by ministers (RTE.ie)

The Tánaiste has said Government ministers are in discussions to see if anything can be done to alleviate rising back-to-school costs.

"Barnardos believes the Government needs to urgently increase the allowance for families to alleviate the current struggles and the hardships they are facing." Barnardos had called on the Government to increase the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance for low-income families. Sinn Féin is proposing to extend the back-to-school allowance to around half a million "middle income" families and to increase the allowance rate for lower income homes.

Families need help now with 'really expensive' back-to-school costs ... (BreakingNews.ie)

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said ministers were working to give families additional help to pay for back-to-school costs.

We should point out that some of the measures in the last budget will only kick in at this point in September. She told TDs: “We calculate that there are as many as half a million households that need to be given this payment in middle income brackets. “And it’s why we changed the rules, only in the last few weeks, to allow students to earn more over the summer without affecting their grant. “Where’s the food going to come from during the summer holidays? You pointed out that there was some improvement at the budget, that now is grossly insufficient.” The next budget will be worth €6.7 billion and include one-off measures to tackle the hike in bills fuelled by inflation.

Government examining new back-to-school package before Budget ... (thejournal.ie)

TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said that the Government are examining a package of measures to tackle back-to-school costs ahead of Budget 2023.

“I think the government’s response to these matters has been slow. It started before school even finished.” Louise Bayliss, the founder and spokesperson of Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids, said that single income households are particularly vulnerable to the cost of back to school.

Families preparing for school in the autumn need help now, Sinn ... (Irish Examiner)

It comes as the government published its Summer Economic Statement on Monday, which outlines the parameters of Budget 2023, worth €6.7bn and will include one- ...

“Where’s the food going to come from during the summer holidays? “In relation to the cost of education, we’re really conscious as a Government that it is an expensive period of time for a lot of people,” Mr McGrath said. “This is a dynamic response to a cost-of-living crisis, which unfortunately is going to continue for some time,” he said. “These are changes that are taking effect over the course of the summer.” “It’s why there is an increase in the SUSI grant for those going to third level. “So I want to put it to you again, that it is crucial that middle income families have access to a back-to-school payment.

Kerry TD calls for 50 percent increase in back to school allowance (Radio Kerry)

Sinn Féin proposal contains a package of measures aimed at cutting costs such as the price of voluntary contributions, school books, uniforms and transport.

Back-to-school allowance to be increased by €100 in bid to help ... (The Irish Times)

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath is examining the issue along with Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for Social Protection ...

Some of last year’s budget measures were kicking in now like a €200 increase in third-level student grants and a rise in the income eligibility limit for the supports, he said. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe was asked on RTÉ Radio on Tuesday if additional measures such as increasing the allowance would be announced. Barnardos also called on the Government to increase the allowance for low-income families.

More back-to-school supports are on the way to help struggling ... (Independent.ie)

ENHANCED back-to-school supports are on the way for this September, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

It was truly unforgivable that the Government is about to “spin off on holidays” for two months, she said. And we do acknowledge that end of September is too late in that regard. The Fine Gael leader acknowledged that back-to-school is a very expensive time for families. “That delay will guarantee one thing,” Ms Shortall said. Because the Government is refusing to help,” she said. “This year the figure is likely to be significantly higher than that.