PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Children’s Rights Alliance Welcomes Increases to Direct Provision Payment & Back to School Allowance for Children
 

The Children’s Rights Alliance welcomes today’s announcement by incoming Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD to increase the weekly Direct Provision Allowance from €15.60 to €21.60 and the Back to School Allowance for children by 25%.

Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance said: “This is a major breakthrough for the most vulnerable groups of children in Ireland. The incoming Taoiseach is to be commended for instigating these increases as his last actions as Minister for Social Protection. It is very positive to see our incoming Taoiseach taking proactive steps to reduce the numbers of children experiencing poverty and social exclusion. Children in Direct Provision have told us about the shame of living with very little. This increase will make a difference to their childhood.

Credit is also due to the Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald TD; Minister of State, David Stanton TD and the officials in both Departments for their support in securing this increase.”

Tanya Ward continued that: “The increase in the Back to School Allowance is a significant step in reducing the numbers of children living in consistent poverty as it will help struggling parents deal with the costs of going back to school.

The Minister for Social Protection’s final actions will have a tangible impact on children living in poverty. It will also help the Government reach its target to lift 107,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020. This is a commitment in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020).

We look forward to working with the incoming Taoiseach as he takes Ireland forward”.

__ENDS___

For further information, please contact Emma McKinley
01 6629400 or 087 655 9067
emma@childrensrights.ie

Notes to Editor
• Tanya Ward, Chief Executive is available for interview.
• This is the second increase in the Direct Provision payment for children in the past 18 months. In January 2016, the child’s payment increased from €9.60 to €15.60 which was the first increase in 16 years.
• The Back to School Allowance has increased from €100-€125 for children from the ages of 4-11 and from €200-€250 for children aged 12 years and over.