asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce proposals to continue the payment of children's allowances in respect of children who continue at school after the age of sixteen years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Allowance.
3.
Payment under the Children's Allowances Acts has never been related at any age to school attendance. The allowances continue to be paid up to sixteen years of age, irrespective of whether or not the child leaves school before reaching that age. There is no differentiation on the ground of means, either of the parents or of the children. It would be a fundamental change to introduce the principle of differentiation as between one group of children and another and in my view such a change would not be desirable.
The amount payable under the Children's Allowances Acts would not constitute a major contribution towards the cost of keeping a child at school or university and if provision for that purpose were to be made I do not think the Children's Allowances Acts would be the proper medium to use. The sections of the community who would derive most benefit from such a course would not be those whose need is greatest but in the majority of cases those who would be less in need of assistance than many others.
I might mention that up to 1953 payment for child dependants between the ages of 14 and 16 under a number of codes was conditional on full time attendance at school but this was found to be unsatisfactory in practice and was discontinued in favour of the system applicable to Children's Allowances. I am accordingly not prepared to introduce the proposals suggested in the Deputy's question.