Michael Ring
Question:260 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to allow child benefit to be payable at fortnightly intervals rather than monthly intervals. [13479/00]
Written Answers. - Child Benefit.
Child benefit is paid monthly in advance. There are no plans to pay child benefit on a fortnightly basis. It might be noted that this would lead to a later payment than is currently available.
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:262 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly with regard to child benefit payments whereby when the first child in a family is no longer eligible for child benefit, the second born is treated as the first child, the third born is treated as the second child and so forth; if his attention has further been drawn that this has a negative economic effect on the family; if he intends to review the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13654/00]
Child benefit is a universal payment which is payable in respect of all children up to the age of 16 years. Child benefit continues to be paid up to age 19 in the case of children who are still in full-time education and children with disabilities.
The rate of payment is currently £34.50 per month for each of the first two qualified children and £46 per month in respect of the third and subsequent qualified children. The structure of the child benefit scheme ensures additional resources are targeted at the larger families, who are at greater risk of poverty, through the existence of a higher rate of payment in respect of the third and subsequent qualified children.
The rate of child benefit payable is not determined on the basis of the place of each individual child within the family; rather it is determined on the basis of the number of eligible children in the family. Where one of a family is no longer a qualified child for child benefit purposes, the overall rate of benefit payable is adjusted in accordance with the number of remaining qualified children. I consider this approach to be reasonable.
The value of child benefit as a means of channelling child income support is reflected in the very substantial investment which the Government makes in the scheme. Most notably, the 2000 budget provides for an additional full-year investment of almost £106 million, bringing the total investment in the scheme up to some £575 million in a full year.
It is my intention that the value of the child benefit scheme will continue to be exploited to the greatest possible extent. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness includes a commitment that child benefit will be substantially increased over the period of the programme, with a priority focus on moving towards £100 per month for the third and subsequent children.