Vol. 510 No. 6
341 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on whether there are exceptional difficulties for those on unemployment benefit who have children in education over the age of 18; and the proposals, if any, he has to sort out this anomaly in view of the fact that child dependant allowances are payable in respect of children of those in receipt of unemployment assistance if they are in education up to the age of 22. [23540/99]
Child dependant allowances are payable in all cases 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 full-time education up to the age of 22 years, or up to the end of the academic year after the 22nd birthday. This applies to long-term payments, such as pensions, only; it does not apply to short-term payments such as disability benefit, unemployment benefit, short-term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance.
The more favourable treatment of people on long-term payments is in recognition of the fact that families with children on long-term payments face a higher risk of poverty.
The question of extending entitlement to child dependant allowances to short-term welfare claimants on the same basis as applies to long-term welfare claimants, including claimants of unemployment benefit, is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context, having regard to the resources available and to other competing priorities.
