More than 5,000 Donegal families to receive Back-to-School Allowance next month

A total of 5,064 families in Donegal will automatically receive the 2025 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance next month, while others should check if they’re eligible too.

Nationally, more that 114,000 families will automatically get the allowance, with over €54 million being provided for this year’s scheme.

Welcoming the opening of applications for the allowance by Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, said the payment is important for so many families.

“The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear,” Minister McConalogue said.

“The rate of payment for 2025 is €160 for children aged 4 to 11, and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second-level education.”

“This is a scheme that is designed to assist families of school-going children, so it’s important that families across Donegal take the time to check their eligibility.”

“Getting children ready for the new school year is a big expense on families, especially those with a number of children starting in September,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy said.

“This initiative will be a good help to parents as they plan ahead for the next number of months,” he added.

The majority of payments will be paid automatically, with no application required. The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid automatically to more than 114,000 families in respect of approximately 197,000 children during the week beginning July 14, 2025.

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The Department of Social Protection is currently processing these payments, and families will receive confirmation informing them of their automatic entitlement on their MyWelfare account or by post. This will result in approximately €42 million being paid to these families during the week beginning July 14.

However, families who do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment should make an application online on www.MyWelfare.ie, even if they received a payment last year.

Online applications opened on Monday, June 9.