Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:
83
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
if he will consider the introduction of tiered rates for dependent children in view of the fact that the cost of feeding and maintaining teenage children is considerably higher than for infants or young children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am very aware of the financial needs of families with children and I have made significant progress in recent budgets in improving the position of such families. This has included increases in the basic rates of payments and substantial increases in child dependent payments. Child benefit payments have also been increased.
In 1987, there were 36 child dependant rates with a minimum rate of £6. In the 1991 budget, the minimum child dependant rate was increased to £12 representing a 100 per cent increase. The number of rates was streamlined to three. Also, child dependant allowances were extended to age 21 in respect of the child dependants of all long term recipients where the child remains in full-time education.
Other improvements in child-related payments were the payment of the higher child benefit of £22.90 in respect of fourth child onwards, which represents an annual increase of over £85 for families of at least four children; substantial improvements in the family income supplement scheme including an increase in the income limits and the abolition of the maximum payments — this latter improvement will be of significant help to low earners and the introduction of a back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance scheme providing for families on social welfare, up to £25 each for children in primary school and £40 for children in second level schools for back to school costs.
In addition, for families at work on low pay, the child related tax exemption scheme, with effect from 6 April 1991, provides for a child tax exemption of £300 for the first and second child in a family, and £500 for third and subsequent children.
Under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress, the Government are committed to providing the resources necessary to implement the additional child income support measures recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare — some £69 million in 1990 terms — over the ten year period of the programme. The particular measures taken will be decided in the light of up-to-date information on child and family circumstances and taking account of available resources. The issue of age-related child dependant payments will be considered in that context.
The following example illustrates the increase in payments for a family on long term unemployment assistance with five children between 1987 and 1991:
|
1987
|
1991
|
Increase
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
|
Basic weekly payment (including Child Benefit)
|
120.36
|
169.51
|
49.15 per week
|
|
Clothing and Footwear Allowance*
|
—
|
155.00
|
|
* New schemes introduced 1990, assumes three children at primary and two at second level. Formerly a limited number of families received some assistance towards the cost of footwear for children.
