Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2555. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which persons are selected for review of their child benefit payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34613/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild benefit is a universal monthly payment made to the parents/guardians of children that assists families with the cost associated with raising children. Child benefit is paid to around 630,000 families in respect of some 1.21 million children with an estimated expenditure of around €2.086 billion in 2017.
Safeguarding the child benefit budget is a priority and the Department takes a proactive approach to ensuring that it is only paid to eligible families. A control strategy has been adopted and operated by the Department which includes risk assessment, surveys of the levels of fraud and error, scheme specific review policies, data matching initiatives with both external and internal parties and investigation of anonymous reports. These controls ensure that review activity is targeted in the most effective manner and the results are monitored.
One of the main features of the child benefit control programme, for customers who are paid at their local post office, is the monthly check carried out when the customer collects the payment. Another key measure, for customers who are paid by electronic fund transfer (EFT), is the issue of continuing eligibility (CE) certificates. The child benefit control programme is kept under regular review based on the outcomes achieved. CE Certificates are targeted at the risk groups identified in fraud and error surveys; issuing primarily to those customers who are paid by EFT.
The total savings from child benefit control activity was €74 million in 2017. The Department has issued 220,000 continuing eligibility certificates to customers in 2018 and has generated just under €30 million in savings to the end of June.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
