Róisín Shortall
Ceist:352 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason no early child care supplement payments were made in January 2009. [6024/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 February 2009
Ceisteanna (318, 319)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:356 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the State in 2008 of the early child care supplement; and the cost to the State of payments made in respect of non-resident children. [6100/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 356 together.
The Early Childcare Supplement [ECS] is administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The total expenditure on the ECS in 2008 was €477.2m. The expenditure on ECS in 2008 for non-resident children was approximately €4.5m.
Up to the end of 2008, ECS was paid quarterly at a rate of €275 per quarter. The last payment for 2008 was made on the 8th December, in respect of the months, October, November and December. As announced in budget 2009, the ECS is now paid monthly, in arrears, at a rate of €92 per month. The payment due for January 2009 was paid, in arrears, on the 9th February.