Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Oct 1997

Vol. 482 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Noel Ahern

Question:

108 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of sets of twins which currently receive child benefit; the annual extra cost if a supplement equal to 50 per cent of the extra benefit given to triplets was granted; if he will consider this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17438/97]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Child benefit is currently payable in respect of all children up to age 16 and continues to be paid in respect of children up to age 19 who are in full-time education or are physically or mentally challenged. Child benefit is payable at double the normal rate for each child where three or more children are born together.

In recognition of the significant additional costs involved for parents of twins, there is provision for the payment of a £500 grant at the birth of twins and for two further grants of £500 payable when the twins reach the ages of four and 12. Over 1,400 families have benefited from these grants at an annual cost of almost £700,000.

In line with the recommendations contained in various reports, including the report of the expert working group on integrating tax and social welfare, the interim report of the commission on the family and the ESRI report on poverty in the 1990s, the improvements in child income support introduced this year are designed to benefit low income families and, in particular, larger families. This has been achieved by increasing the higher rate of child benefit, payable in respect of third and subsequent children, by £5 and by increasing the lower rate of child benefit, payable in respect of the first and second child, by £1.

There are an estimated 12,500 sets of twins for whom child benefit is payable at the normal monthly rate. The estimated annual extra cost of paying a supplement at half the normal monthly rate is £4.8 million.

The Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the role of the family in Irish society. In that context, one of my priorities is the continued development of child benefit as a key support for every child in the state. The question of introducing specific measures in respect of twins will be examined in the light of overall budgetary priorities.

Noel Ahern

Question:

109 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the cost involved in giving free schemes to all eligible applicants on pre-retirement allowance; if he will estimate the likely take-up in this regard; and if he will start the procedure by granting some limited concessions in this regard in the coming budget. [17439/97]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Free travel is available to all persons in the State aged 66 years, or over, and also to certain disabled people under the age of 66. The other free schemes are available to people, usually aged 66 or over, who are in receipt of a welfare type payment and who are either living alone or who otherwise satisfy the living alone condition. In addition, widows and widowers between the age of 60 and 65 whose late spouses had entitlement to the free schemes retain that entitlement notwithstanding their age.

At the end of last year there were a total of 14,150 people in receipt of pre-retirement allowance which is payable to those between the age of 55 and 65. An extension of the free schemes to include this category would entail additional costs of the order of £6.5 million and could only be considered in the light of available resources.