Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

799 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will amend the regulations concerning child dependant payments to cover the period from May to September between when a student finishes second level education and commences third level education; and if he will consider allowing the continuation of the child dependent payment to parents of these students. [21558/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern):

Subject to the usual qualifying conditions, child dependant allowances are normally payable in respect of qualified children up to 18 years of age. In addition, where a student is aged 18 or over, the child dependant allowance is payable following completion of second-level education or the leaving certificate, during the three month period when the student is disqualified from receipt of unemployment assistance. These arrangements apply to both short-term and long-term schemes.

In the case of long-term payments such as pensions, where the qualified child remains in full-time education, the child dependant element can continue up to 22 years of age or up to the end of the academic year after the 22nd birthday. At present these arrangements do not apply to short-term payments such as disability benefit, unemployment benefit, short-term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance. The Government is committed to extending these arrangements to all social welfare recipients where the child is aged under 22 and in full-time education within the lifetime of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will get in touch with me and I can arrange to have the matter examined.