Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
21. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that all recipients of child benefit attend school up to 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17238/15]
View answerChild benefit is the main policy instrument for assisting families with the costs of raising children. It is a universal payment paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years, or to the age of 18 who are in full-time education or who have a disability. It is paid to over 615,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children, at a cost of €1.9 billion.
School attendance up to the age of 16 years is a statutory requirement under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
Consequently, all recipients of child benefit are legally required to attend school up to this age. There is a national monitoring system for statutory school attendance via the National Educational Welfare Board, which is now part of Tusla, the child and family agency. Policy responsibility for school attendance rests with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
For children over 16 years and less than 18 years, the continued payment of child benefit is dependent on the children attending school for these two years. Parents with children aged 16 and 17 years must return a form confirming school attendance, signed by their school, to the Department of Social Protection on an annual basis.
If the Deputy has specific concerns about school absenteeism, the competent authorities to address these are the National Educational Welfare Board/Child and Family Agency.
I am satisfied with the existing steps that require children in receipt of child benefit to attend school up to 16 and to 18 years of age under both education and social protection policies.
