Squeezed middle-income earners will not benefit from the Government’s fresh back-to-school clothing and footwear allowances announced to help with the cost of living crisis.
Ministers Norma Foley, Heather Humpreys and Michael McGrath announced on Tuesday that the back-to-school allowance is being increased by €100 for each eligible child under the scheme.
However, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys defended not expanding the means-tested scheme to other hard-pressed workers and said: “We are targeting the resources at those who are most in need... for those families who qualify for a back-to-school allowance.
Read More: Parents to benefit from €100 increase to back-to-school clothing allowance
“It’s 121,000 families and 262,000 children will benefit from this measure.
“We have to be targeted in all of our measures.
“If you look at any of the reports it says the most targeted measures bring the most benefits.”
This is despite Minister Humphrey’s party leader, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, stating on radio on Tuesday that while he accepted that people on lower incomes needed support, he did not agree with suggestions that those on middle incomes should not be helped.
He told RTE: “They [middle income earners] can often be struggling to make ends meet as much as somebody on a low income.
“That’s my experience and that’s why I think we should have universal measures that benefit people on middle incomes, but those on the lowest incomes should get more.”
Sinn Fein’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has said that Government measures on back-to-school costs will still leave many struggling families without assistance.
He said: “A family with one child in school, and with a total household income above €620 per week - well below the average wage - will not qualify.
“Many people on wages like that, and above, are really struggling week to week.
“For those families, they will be put to the pin of their collars as they face bills of hundreds of euros on school costs; sometimes over a thousand euro.”
The allowance, paid in respect of children aged between four and 11 years, will increase from €160 to €260, and from €285 to €385 for those over 11.
Payments of the allowance start next week, with the increased amount being paid from August.
It is estimated that some 151,000 families will benefit from this measure in respect of over 262,000 children.
Education Minister Norma Foley announced the Government was waiving school transport fees for anyone who has applied for and receives a school transport ticket - impacting 121,000 children.
They will not be charged fees for the academic year 2022-2023.
This will provide families with savings of up to €500 on the cost of tickets, she said, but normal eligibility criteria will apply and tickets will be allocated accordingly.
Minister Foley said the package announced is a €67 million package which “in fact means an additional €9 per week in each families pocket.”
Minister Humphreys also announced that an additional 60,000 children in DEIS schools will be eligible for the school meals programme.
Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath said the increase in the back-to-school allowance was being made on an "exceptional one-off basis" but the extension of the meals programme is on a permanent basis.
