Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2017
72. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s definition of a "child" in view of its interpretations under qualified child and child benefit payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25898/17]
View answerThe legislation underpinning the definition of a child for the purposes of Child Benefit are contained in Sections 219 and 220 of the 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
As a universal payment Child Benefit provides assistance to eligible families in recognition of the extra costs associated with raising children.
Increases for a Qualified Child (IQCs) are paid as child-related supplements to most weekly social welfare payments in recognition of the need for greater incomes among benefit-dependent households with dependent children.
IQC payments do not of themselves constitute a specific social welfare scheme and entitlement to the appropriate primary adult payment must be established in the first instance.
The legislation is scheme specific because each scheme has a different set of objectives and qualifying criteria.
Extending Child Benefit entitlement to parents of full time students over 18 years of age would not be a targeted approach given the universality of Child Benefit. The adoption of such a proposal would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- qualified child increases (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;
- the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).
I am satisfied these schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
