Phil Hogan
Ceist:131 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the existing level of support under the child benefit payment to the parents of multiple births. [13527/03]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Significant improvements in the level of support under the child benefit scheme to parents of multiple births have been made in recent years. Prior to 1998, child benefit was payable at the normal rate for each child in the case of twins with an added grant of €634.87,£500, payable at birth. Further grants of € 634.87 were payable when the twins reached the ages of four and 12. Child benefit was paid at double the normal rate where three or more children were born together. However, no birth grants were payable in the case of triplets.
In the Social Welfare Act 1998, two key additional measures were introduced, designed to improve the overall package of benefits available to parents of multiple births. First, the € 634.87, £500, grants, which previously were confined to families with twins, were extended to include families with multiple births of three or more children. Second, the rate of child benefit payable in respect of twins was increased to 150% of the normal rate. Very substantial investments have been made in general to the CB scheme in recent years, with total expenditure on child benefit expected to reach €1.9 billion when the current programme of multi-annual increases is complete. These improvements will benefit all families with children, including of course, families with multiple births. Any further changes in the scheme to improve the position of parents of multiple births would have to be considered in the light of overall budgetary priorities.
Question No. 132 answered with Question No. 113.