Vol. 474 No. 1
53 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that in the case of school-going traveller children child benefit levels will reflect and respond to times of particular financial difficulty in their school life as recommended in the report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2628/97]
The Task Force on the Travelling Community identified a number of factors contributing to the low level of participation by traveller children in second level education, including the high cost involved for low income traveller families. In its report of July 1995, it recommended that in order to assist in reducing the financial burden imposed on traveller families at second level, child benefit levels should reflect and respond to times of particular financial difficulty in school life and a realistic school clothing and footwear grant and school books allowance should be provided for traveller pupils. The recommendations of the task force have been examined by an interdepartmental working group on which my Department was represented.
Child benefit is a universal scheme which is available to all families in the State. The key principle of a universal scheme is that it should be available to all on the basis of shared circumstances or contingency; in this case the increased costs associated with the rearing of children. As announced in last week's budget, child benefit is being increased from September next by £1 per child per month for the first two children and £5 per child per month for the third child and subsequent children. The new monthly rates will be £30 each for the first two children and £39 for each child thereafter. A family of three children will get £99 a month and a six child family will get £216 a month.
Since this Government came to office, a three child family has got a 52 per cent increase in their child benefit and a five child family 54 per cent. In addition, the age limit up to which child benefit is paid for those in full-time education has been extended from 18 to 19 years and the grant of £200 payable on the birth of twins has been increased to £500 and a new grant of £500 payable on the twins reaching the age of four years and the age of 12 years has been introduced.
In relation to the assistance available to families arising from school costs, my Department's back to school clothing and footwear allowance is specifically designed to help meet the extra costs that arise at the start of each school year. It is available to all families, including traveller families, who are in receipt of social welfare payments. The allowance currently payable is £43 per child attending primary school and £58 per child in second level education. In addition, urgent needs payments are available from the community welfare officer under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
