Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1080. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if discussions are expected to increase the children’s allowance payment to help ease the burden on families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42391/22]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment of €140 made to families with children in respect of all qualifying children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022.
In addition, families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income.
As part of Budget 2022, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €40 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €3 to €48 per week, from January. Budget 2022 also provided for a €10 weekly increase in the income limits for Working Family Payment which came into effect from April.
More recently, the Government has introduced a range of measures to support families with the increased cost of living. In July we announced changes to three initiatives to assist families with back to school costs at a total additional cost of €67 million.
As a result, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, was increased by €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. Consequently, the amount paid for each qualified child aged 4 to 11 years is €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over is €385. This is in addition to the increases which had already been provided for in Budget 2022. It is estimated that some 151,000 families will benefit from this measure in respect of over 262,000 children.
In addition, the School Meals Programme is being extended to an additional 310 schools who were designated as DEIS schools in March and students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the next academic year.
The supports provided by my Department are kept under review, particularly in the context of the Budget.
