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Child Benefit Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019

Tuesday, 14 May 2019

Questions (475)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

475. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to change the rules with regard to the payment of child benefit to separated parents by which both parents can claim an equal portion of child benefit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20478/19]

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Written answers

Child Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years (and up to their 18th birthday if the child is in full-time education, or has a disability). Currently, Child Benefit is paid to 630,573 families in respect of over 1.2 million children, with an expenditure of over some €2 billion in 2018.

The needs of the children are the priority consideration in the payment of Child Benefit. Under Section 220 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005, Child Benefit is payable to the person with whom a qualified child normally resides. Regulations governing normal residence for Child Benefit purposes are contained in S.I. 142/2007 (Article 159) and they provide inter alia for the following:

1. In the event that a qualified child is resident with both mother and father, he or she will be regarded as normally residing with the mother (or step-mother);

2. If mother and father are resident in separate households, the qualified child shall be regarded as normally residing with the person with whom he or she resides for the majority of the time.

The rules of the scheme do not preclude payment to the father, and if a child is living the majority of the time the father only, then Child Benefit will be payable to the father. Legislation was first introduced in 1974 to provide for payment to the mother. This was seen as a progressive step at the time. Nonetheless, I am aware of the need to keep this approach under review in the light of significant social changes and changing family formation. The Department regularly reviews all of its schemes, including Child Benefit, in order to ensure that they are still delivering on their policy aims and objectives.

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