Vol. 555 No. 5
418 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the commitment made to increase the payment of child benefit in the 2002 budget; the cost of implementing this change in 2003 and in a full year; and if the Government remains committed to the implementation of this increase. [19008/02]
The Deputy is no doubt aware that it has been a priority of the Government to invest heavily in the child benefit scheme as a means of easing the financial burden of rearing children. In budget 2001, the Government announced a three year programme which aimed at investing an additional €1.27 billion in our children's well-being. Budget 2001 and 2002 provided for child benefit increases at a full year cost of €417.5 million and €413.82 million respectively. To complete this programme of multi-annual increases, a further investment of €413 million would be required in a full year. The Government's decision on the allocation for child benefit will be announced in the forthcoming budget. The 2003 and full year costs of such decisions will be provided for in the budget.
419 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason persons of non-national origin who have Irish citizenship are required to surrender their passport to the Department of Social and Family Affairs when they make an application for an unemployment payment; if she has satisfied herself that these procedures are necessary and that there are no alternative procedures which could be in place which would be less intrusive, such as taking a copy of the passport, if such passport evidence is essential. [19027/02]
All applicants for unemployment payments must supply proof of identification when making a claim. This requirement is applied to all customers in a consistent manner irrespective of their nationality. The customer will normally be asked to supply either a long version of his or her birth certificate or passport and one of the following: social services card, driving licence, post office, bank, building society or credit union book, bank card or rent book. In the case of non-national customers who, through particular circumstances, may not be in a position to produce a birth certificate or passport, a national identity card or a certificate of registration with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform may be acceptable. Where necessary, photocopies of documents are taken. However, where photographic ID has been presented, permission to make a photocopy is first requested of the customer.
If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of documents supplied in support of an application, the documents will be retained by officials of my Department until they can be validated and the customer is issued with a receipt. Once validated they will be returned to the customer as soon as possible. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind I will be happy to look into the circumstances if the relevant details are supplied.
