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BACK TO SCHOOL Helping To Meet The Costs JOANNA TUFFY TD

BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR ALLOWANCE Contact Joanna: Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Dáil Office: (01) 6183822 Constituency Office: (01) 6218400 Email: joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie Web: www.joannatuffy.ie

Working with Joanna Tuffy TD

Robert Dowds TD 01 618 3446 robert.dowds@oir.ie

Cllr. Breeda Bonner 01 414 9248 bbonner@sdublincoco.ie

Cllr. Caitríona Jones 087 203 4427 cjones@sdublincoco.ie

Cllr. Eamon Tuffy 086 386 3173 etuffy@sdublincoco.ie

TUFFY JOANNA BACK TO SCHOOL A5 2043_Layout 1 28/06/2012 16:42 Page 2

Back To School: Helping To Meet The Costs The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance helps you meet the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school.

In 2012 the Department of Social Protection will pay this allowance automatically to a large number of qualified people.

This means that many families do not have to apply for the payment. If you received this payment last year and your circumstances have not changed you should have received a letter by 20 June 2012 stating when and how your allowance will be paid. If you haven’t received this notification letter and are eligible for the allowance, you should make an application.

Your child must be aged between 4-22 on or before 30 September. If they are aged between 18-22 they must be in full-time education in a recognised school or college.

If you do not receive an automatic payment you must apply for the Allowance. Applications must be received before the end of September.

You may qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if you are: l Getting a social welfare payment (including Family Income Supplement) or a Health Service Executive payment, or l Taking part in an approved employment scheme (back to work scheme) including JobBridge, or l Taking part in a recognised education or training course, or l Involved in an Area Partnership Scheme, or l Attending a FAS, Fáilte Ireland or LES training scheme The qualifying payments are listed on the Department of Social Protection's website. Application forms are available in all social welfare local offices and online at www.welfare.ie. You can also request a form by texting FORM BTSCFA followed by your address to 51909.

Did you know a grant scheme is available for students in primary and postprimary schools to help with the cost of school books?

Three-quarters of all primary schools and over half of all second level schools operate book rental schemes to help reduce the cost of books for parents.

Other schools use the grant to help low-income families purchase books.

Minister for Education & Skills Ruairi Quinn has ring-fenced the €15 million budget for school book grants for the coming 2012/13 school year. We are also publishing guidelines on how school communities can set up and run school book rental schemes, to help reduce the costs for parents. Speak to your Principal to see how the grant is administered in your children’s school.

Joanna Tuffy TD Dáil Office: (01) 6183822 Constituency Office: (01) 6218400 Email: joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie Web: www.joannatuffy.ie 0612