Low-income families were today urged to access a €38 million fund to help buy clothes and shoes for back-to-school children.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Martin Cullen said eligible parents can receive €180 for each child aged between two and 11 years and €285 for 12-22 year-olds.
However campaigners immediately called for the rates to be doubled and to be paid out twice a year — at summer and Christmas.
"We need more realistic payments that factor in the full cost of sending a child to school," said Audrey Deane, St Vincent de Paul's Social Justice and Policy Officer.
Ms Deane also said that filling out the 12-page form for the Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and getting it signed by an employer was very laborious and may discourage some parents.
"Surely it's not impossible for the Revenue to be talking to the Social & Family Affairs Department to work out which category of income parents fit into," she added.
St Vincent de Paul recommended increasing the 2-11 year-old allowance to €415 and the 12-22 rate to €675.
Last year the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was paid out to 161,451 children and students. "I am anxious this year that once again, as many people as possible apply for the allowance," said Mr Cullen.
The Government is making €38 million available — up 46 per cent on that last year's allocation. The rates also increased from €120 to €180 and €190 to €285.
The Social and Family Affairs Department will begin a two-week national and local radio advertising campaign on August 20th.
A person may qualify for payment of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if he/she has a dependant child; is in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment; is participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education or training course and if the household income is at or below certain specified levels. Parents who are getting Family Income Supplement may also qualify.
The closing date for applications is September 28th.