Major delays in Back-to-School Allowance payments unacceptable – Browne

Families in Co Wexford have been hit with delays of up to 8 weeks in Back-to-School Allowance payments, according to Wexford Fianna Fáil TD John Browne. Deputy Browne has said the situation has caused serious distress to many young families, who are struggling to budget the new school year.

“I have been contacted by many parents who simply cannot cope with the costs associated with the new school year without the help of the Back-to-School Allowance. Families around the country are facing major delays in receiving the payment, but the situation is particularly bad in Wexford where the waiting times have now reached 8 weeks. 

“It essentially means that many families across Co Wexford will not receive this vital financial support from the State until well after the school year has begun. In the meantime, they are struggling to pay for new school books, uniforms, stationary and other essential school items.

“Fianna Fáil has written to the Minister Joan Burton to ask her to temporarily reassign staff within her department to speed up the processing of applications over the number few weeks.  I believe this is a reasonable step that the Minister can take to ensure more parents receive financial support in advance of the new school year.

“There are still tens of thousands of applications which have to be processed by the Department of Social Protection.  Immediate temporary measures are need to ease the current burden on families in Wexford and across the country who are waiting anxiously for the payment.

“This is an extremely expensive time for families and we cannot have a situation where many are forced to wait several more weeks before they get the support that is available to them. I believe the waiting time can be reduced significantly if the Government takes action now.”