Vol. 452 No. 8
188 John Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the payment of child dependant allowance in respect of children over the age of 18 years who are still in full time education to recipients of disability benefit and occupational injury benefit. [8896/95]
Child dependant increases are payable in respect of all children up to the age of 18 years. Where a claimant is in receipt of a long term social welfare payment child dependant allowances are payable where children are in fulltime education up to the age of 22 years. This is in recognition of the fact that families with children on long term payments face a higher risk of poverty.
Any proposal to extend the age at which child dependant allowances are payable with short term payment, such as disability benefit and occupational injury benefit, would have expenditure implications and could only be considered in the context of the budget.
