Vol. 426 No. 7
91 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly in the Social Welfare system whereby a father of children in a joint custody situation is not entitled to claim part children's allowance in respect of his children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement to payment of child benefit is governed by regulations which confer the entitlement on the child's mother in the first instance. However, if she so wishes, a mother can nominate the child's father, or another person, to receive child benefit on her behalf. In situations where the couple are living apart entitlement is given to whichever parent the child is residing with.
This situation is in line with the recommendation of the First Commission on the Status of Women (1972), which took the view that the best way of ensuring that child benefit was used for the benefit of the child was to have it paid to the mother. The priority given to the mother is not regarded as anomalous in situations where a separated couple have joint custody of the children.
