Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:162. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending child benefit to all children living in direct provision. [9964/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 10 March 2015
Ceisteanna (162)
Freagraí scríofa
Child Benefit is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years in line with the statutory school attendance age. The payment continues to be paid for children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, subject to certification from school or college of educational attendance for each of these years.
In order to qualify for payment of child benefit, a person must satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition. Section 246 (7) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 lists persons who shall not be regarded as habitually resident and this includes those who are at any stage of the asylum process, or who have similar forms of request for permission to remain in Ireland, but in respect of whom such permission has not yet been granted.
The Department does not hold information regarding the ages or school attendance records of children in direct provision. Therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of extending child benefit to these children. The potential cost of Child Benefit to children in Direct Provision is in the region of €2.3 million. However this figure is based on a calculation of the total number of children of Direct Provision Allowance (DPA) claimants, without any knowledge of whether they would meet the qualifying criteria as set out above. The payment of DPA is made on administrative basis by this Department of behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality.
The Department is represented on the Government Working Group on improvements to the protection process including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers. It is expected that this Group will report to Government over the coming weeks.
Question No. 163 withdrawn.