Vol. 454 No. 4
146 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to deal with the anomaly where the child dependant allowance is discontinued for a recipient of unemployment assistance when the son or daughter reaches their eighteenth birthday and is still at school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10953/95]
The age limit for payment of child dependant allowances to long term social welfare recipients including those receiving unemployment assistance at the long term rate, where the child remains in full-time education, has been progressively increased in recent years. This year, I have extended the age at which the child additions paid with long term payments are made to 22 years for those in full-time education.
Child dependant allowances paid with short term payments, including unemployment assistance at the short term rate, are payable up to the age of 18 years. Any extension of this age limit, or any alternative scheme of allowances for the people concerned, would have financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context having regard to available resources.
