Vol. 443 No. 1
55 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to extend child benefit to children over 18 years of age who are still at second level school, having particular regard to the revision year in operation in many second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Child benefit is normally paid in respect of a qualified child up to 16 years of age. Where the child continues in full-time education or the child is physically or mentally handicapped, the payment may continue up to 18 years of age.
I have introduced significant improvements to the child benefit scheme in recent years. In September 1993 I raised the lower rate of child benefit from £15.80 to £20, a 26.6 per cent increase. The higher rate was also raised to £23. In 1994 I will be increasing the higher rate further to £25 representing a total increase for the higher rate of over 9 per cent since early 1993. Also, from September 1994 the higher rate which was previously payable in respect of the fourth and subsequent children in families will also be payable in respect of the third child.
Any further extension of child benefit would have cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
