The Government are set to introduce new plans to allow for the sale of children's shoes.
There is set to be an announcement in the Dáil in the coming days on how the Government will ensure that children who require new shoes are able to get the correct ones for their needs.
It comes after the issues were highlighted over the last few days.
Currently, shoe shops are not considered "essential retail" by the Government, forcing parents to look online to try and figure out sizes and types for their children.
This had led to complaints from parents of children who require special orthotics to help develop their mobility.
They say they have been forced to buy multiple pairs of shoes online in order to find a pair that fits for their child, while other parents of children who do not require orthotics have also complained about not being able to find proper-fitting shoes.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe was questioned on the outrage while on RTÉ Radio this morning: “But, in relation to the specific question of when children's shoes will be made available, what we will do as we move into May is we will look at decisions that we will make on non-essential retail that will offer the prospect.
“My understanding of this issue is that there are many retailers either delivering these shoes online or if parents call retailers that are called arrangements are made for those shoes to be available.”
Mr Donohoe said that he sympathised with parents about the issue: ''I absolutely appreciate the challenges that young families and young children face, everything our government and party is doing is motivated on keeping them safe.
“There are circumstances in which those shoes are available and when we get to May and we are in a better place with this disease those retailers, I hope, will be able to meet the important needs that you are referring to.”
He added that if shoe shops were open for “particular reasons” that he would be being asked why every other non-essential retail is still closed.
