Pat Carey
Question:282 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the levels of diabetic allowance have been increased for 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3393/02]
Vol. 547 No. 3
282 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the levels of diabetic allowance have been increased for 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3393/02]
298 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the gluten-free diet required for sufferers from a coeliac condition far exceeds in cost the diet allowance available; his plans to increase the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3484/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 298 together.
283 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a child being educated at home after the age of 16 automatically loses child benefit; his views on the construction of 'not attending school' as being 'in a position to earn income'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3162/02]
Child Benefit is a universal payment which is payable in respect of all children up to the age of 16 years and continues to be paid in respect of children up to age 19 who are in full-time education or who have a physical or mental disability. Regulations prescribe the circumstances which determine whether a child aged 16 years or over may be regarded as receiving full-time education for child benefit purposes. These regulations stipulate that a child attending a full-time course of instruction at an institution of education is regarded as receiving full-time education. In the case of children who are being educated at home, the requirement to satisfy the full-time education condition can be fulfilled by the provision of confirmation from the Department of Education and Science that the child has registered and been accepted to sit the junior certificate or leaving certificate examination, as the case may be. This together with a declaration from the parent that their child is receiving full-time education from a suitably qualified person would suffice to allow the payment of child benefit. In reaching a determination on this matter, each case is, of course, decided on its own merits.
I do not accept that one can make any assumptions in regard to whether a child is 'in a position to earn income' from the fact that a child is not attending a school. In any event, the potential of a child to earn income has no bearing on entitlement to child benefit, because the payment is not subject to a means-test. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, many children who attend school on a full-time basis, also work on a part-time basis and are not as a result precluded from receiving child benefit.
As I have already stated, payment of child benefit after the age of 16, is determined by reference to whether or not the child is receiving his or her education on a full-time basis. This requirement applies equally where a child is attending a school or being educated at home.