Terence Flanagan
Question:56. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding children's allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6516/15]
View answerThursday, 12 February 2015
Questions (56)
Written answers
Child benefit is a monthly payment paid to all families to assist with the costs associated with raising children. In 2014, it was paid to almost 1.2 million children in more than 600,000 families, with a total estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion.
In 2014, child benefit was paid to an average 7,577 non-resident children in 4,728 families, at an estimated cost of €11.82 million. The cost represents less than 1% of the total child benefit expenditure. The 2013 figures are similar: an average 7,707 non-resident children in 4,819 families, at a cost of €12 million.
The social security rights of people living and working in the EU are governed by EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. These regulations are designed to co-ordinate the social security systems of the various Member States so that people and their families are not disadvantaged when they move within the EU. A key principle of the coordination system is that persons moving to different Member States are subject to the same obligations and enjoy the same benefits as the nationals of those Member States.
The Irish child benefit payment is classified as a family benefit for the purposes of these coordination rules and the payment of these benefits are governed by specific rules set out in the regulations. EU nationals who come to work in Ireland, and who pay social insurance contributions, are entitled to receive child benefit in respect of their children, even if the children reside in another EU Member State. The equality provisions of the regulations require that these payments are made at the same rate and under the same conditions as apply to a person whose family is resident in Ireland. As in many areas of EU legislation, national legislation is effectively constrained in how it treats Irish nationals or residents against those from other member states.
Changes to EU legislation to modify child benefit entitlements in respect of non-resident children requires the agreement of the EU Commission, as any proposals for amendments must be tabled by the Commission itself.