Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1122. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the rule was introduced that children over 16 years of age in full-time education have the payment of child benefit suspended for the summer months and reinstated by application if they return to full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29941/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.
Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022.
Child Benefit was introduced for children aged over 16 who remain in education by Part 6 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act of 1973.
Payment of Child Benefit for the summer months will continue where the school has certified that the child will remain in full time education. Where the school has not certified continuing education the payment will be temporarily suspended and the claimant will be advised to confirm continuing education in the Autumn. This is a well established practice that predates the transfer of Child Benefit to its current IT system in the early 2000's.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
