Deputy Noel Coonan said this Government has a lot to answer for as it fails disastrously to successfully administer this year’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme and as a result is driving North Tipperary parents to moneylenders. Last year, there was a huge delay in payments causing undue hardship to parents and the Fine Gael TD said this year is sadly no different.

Deputy Coonan said: “When people contact the Back to School Clothing and Footwear National Information Line they are advised to contact the Lo-Call Helpline which services North Tipperary, Clare and Limerick but in most cases people have rang the Lo-Call number without answer. This is causing added frustration for people who want to see firstly if their application has been received and secondly if it is valid. This demonstrates a total lack of consideration towards the public by the HSE at a time when families are under severe economic pressures. Unlike last year, there is no staff working solely on the helpline to answer questions from anxious parents. The 11 members of staff who are processing applications are also manning the helpline.

“Only this morning, a very anxious father came into my office and was close to tears because he cannot afford to buy uniforms for his three children and he fears they will be expelled if they return without adequate clothing. Last year, the constituent in question resorted to a money lender and plunged himself into debt. I was sure that lessons would be learned from last year and the HSE would ensure there was enough staff to process applications before children return to school but North Tipperary is one of the worst blackspots where no decision had been made on almost half of applications,” continued the Fine Gael TD.

“The HSE has admitted that there will be many families who will not be paid by the time school resumes. Last year, five additional staff was allocated to process the huge number of applications, albeit at a late date. I will continue to make representations to the HSE to try and speed up the process and help struggling families across the constituency,” concluded the local TD.