Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1281. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing children’s allowance by 10% and extending payment until children are finished in full-time education or become 18 whichever is the later; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41435/22]
View answer1297. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of students in secondary school aged 18 or 19; the estimated cost of extending eligibility to child benefit for all those young people still in full-time second-level education, including those in Youthreach programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41662/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1281 and 1297 together.
The estimated full-year cost of increasing Child Benefit (formerly Children's Allowance) by 10% and extending the payment to children aged 18 or 19 in second level education is in the region of €285m.
The number of students in secondary school who are 18 or 19 years old at some point in the academic year is estimated to be about 60,000. On that basis, the estimated cost of extending eligibility for Child Benefit for students aged 18 and 19 while they remain in second level education is in the region of €73m at the current rate of payment.
These costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
