The Back to School Allowance is set to be expanded to include children in foster care, according to plans expected to go before Cabinet on Tuesday, reports The Mirror.
Sources have confirmed that Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary will present a proposal to Cabinet that would extend the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to children who are currently receiving the Foster Care Allowance.
This allowance offers a once-off payment to qualifying families to help cover the expenses of clothing and footwear in preparation for the upcoming school year, reports The Mirror.
For the 2025 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme, payment amounts are €160 for children aged 11 and under as of September 30, 2025, and €285 for those aged between 12 and 22 by the same date.
Students over 18 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college during autumn 2025 to remain eligible for the payment, reports The Mirror.
The Programme for Government had pledged to make this payment available to children in foster care.
An estimated 2,300 children currently receiving the Foster Care Allowance are expected to become eligible for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance under Minister Calleary’s proposed plan, reports The Mirror.
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