Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015
92. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of quarterly child benefit review forms issued in each of the past three years and in 2015 to date; if these form part of the control review process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19705/15]
View answerChild benefit is a universal payment made to parents/guardians for the support of their children. It is paid to some 615,000 families in respect of 1.18 million children, with an expenditure of approximately €1.9 billion in 2014.
Safeguarding the child benefit budget is a priority and the Department takes a proactive approach to ensuring that it is only paid to eligible families. A policy of issuing continuing eligibility certificates to parents commenced in 2008 and is still in operation; forming part of the overall review process.
Details of certificates issued since January 2012 are shown in the table:
|
Year |
Quarter 1 |
Quarter 2 |
Quarter 3 |
Quarter 4 |
Totals |
|
2012 |
114,970 |
83,740 |
107,749 |
75,693 |
382,152 |
|
2013 |
60,851 |
80,214 |
76,920 |
119,080 |
337,065 |
|
2014 |
121,326 |
90,889 |
93,692 |
65,763 |
371,670 |
|
2015 |
75,732 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
75,732 |
