Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
446. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will consider extending the duration of child benefit to last until a child has completed secondary school in order to benefit those who turn 19 in their sixth year of secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47734/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2020.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) with primary social welfare payments;
the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
As part of Budget 2021, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €38 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €5 to €45 per week. These increases came into effect in January 2021.
Extending Child Benefit in respect of full time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
