Vol. 547 No. 1
864 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when child benefit increases will be aligned with social welfare improvements and income tax changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/02]
Last year, I brought forward the payment of child benefit increases by a full three months, from September to June, thus increasing the value of the child benefit increases provided for in last year's budget. This year, child benefit rates will increase in April, a further two months earlier than last year. In addition, in line with the change of the tax year to the calendar year, the effective payment date of weekly social welfare increases in 2002 has been brought forward to January, a full 23 weeks earlier than when we came into office.
Under the three year programme of child benefit increases launched in 2001, we are committed to increasing the lower rate of child benefit to 149.20 per month, and the higher rate for third and subsequent children, to 185.40 per month by 2003. Delivery of the third phase of child benefit increases will cost an estimated 326.4 million in 2003. It would cost a further 108.8 million to bring forward payment of these increases to January. The question of aligning child benefit rates with social welfare improvements and income tax changes is, therefore, a matter for consideration in a budgetary context, with particular reference to the Government priority in regard to achieving the child benefit target rates set for 2003.
