Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1836. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the costs of reversing all cuts and changes to child benefit since 2008. [37748/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMonday, 11 September 2017
Ceisteanna (1836, 1838)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1838. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing maternity benefits to €300 per week. [37750/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1836 and 1838 together.
The current Child Benefit rate is €140 per month for each child. For twins, the rate is one and a half times the normal monthly rate for each child. For triplets and other multiple births, Child Benefit is paid at double the normal monthly rate for each child, provided at least three of the children remain qualified.
In April 2008, the Child Benefit rate for the first and second child was €166 per month and the rate for the third and subsequent children was €203 per month. At this time, Child Benefit was payable in respect of children who were aged 18 and still in full-time education. There was also a Special Grant of €635 which was payable at birth for all multiple births and further grants of €635 were paid when these children were aged 4 and 12. The cost of implementing all of these measures is estimated to be close to €627 million in 2018.
The cost of increasing both the Maternity and Adoptive Benefits to €300 per week is estimated to be almost €69 million in 2018. In addition, the estimated cost of increasing Paternity Benefit (which is paid at the same rate of €235 per week) to €300 per week is €2.7 million in 2018.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2018.