Vol. 413 No. 3
11 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending payment in respect of dependent children in full time education up to the age of 21 to all categories of social welfare recipients such as those on unemployment assistance or supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to change the current regulations in the payment of child dependant's allowance to dependants of unemployed people who are attending third level educations and are over 21 years of age.
59 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending the availability of allowances for children in full-time education up to age 21 years to all parents who are dependent on social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 57 and 59 together. Since last July, increases in respect of dependent children in full-time education are payable up to age 21 in the case of recipients of all long term social welfare payments, including long term unemployment assistance. Increases in respect of dependent children of recipients of short term payments are payable up to age 18 years. Payment of such increases beyond 18 would have major financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context. Payment of increases in respect of dependants over 21 would also have to be considered in a budgetary context.
The Minister's response is rather disappointing in the light of the previous reply which dealt with the Government's specific objectives under the new Programme for Government. They gave a commitment to consider the position and ensure greater equity in this area. A deserted wife with dependent children in full time education may have to wait up to three months for her claim for allowance to be processed. These people are extremely vulnerable. Will the Minister agree that those in receipt of short term unemployment assistance are being discriminated against by only allowing entitlement for children up to the age of 18 years of age? Will the Minister regularise the position pertaining to short term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance?
I have dealt with the position. If major improvements are to be made there will be financial implications involved which will have to be provided for. In the review to which I have referred I will examine the matter fully and if I can deal with it effectively I will do so. I do not want to make any commitments or promises here that I might not be in a position to honour.
In the case of supplementary welfare allowances there would be no financial implications involved because that is a short term payment, designed to tide the person over while the Department are processing the application.
I thought the Deputy has a question to put.
The Minister's predecessor went some way towards rationalising this area relating to child dependence and child benefit. Will the Minister agree that there are discrepancies in the treatment of those on long term and short term benefit? All children of the nation should be treated equally. I hope the Minister will continue the rationalisation process.
I give an assurance that in so far as the Department can continue to rationalise and improve the schemes, we will do so. However, I have outlined the situation as of now.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): We are trying to encourage people to stay in education as long as possible. Would the Minister not agree that it is grossly unfair to penalise parents when their children remain at school? I had tabled a priority question, which was ruled out of order, on the case of persons who were not entitled to a free telephone because their 15-year old was at school. We cannot expect people to remain at school if we punish their parents for allowing them to stay at school.
There is no question of punishment. We are trying to put in place a system that is reasonable and fair and that will not militate against any family. If the Deputy forwards this particular case to me, I will have it examined to see whether we can help.
