The Department has no plans to review the policy in relation to the amount of information required from any child benefit applicants. Payment of child benefit may be made to both Irish and non-Irish citizens that meet the qualifying criteria. Entitlement to benefit and the rate of payment is subject to national and European legislation. The Department is always careful to restrict the amount of information requested to that which is necessary to determine eligibility. As a result, any information requested from a customer is required by a deciding officer to enable them make a decision on the claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.