Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Department receives 350 claims per week under EU regulations for children who are not resident in the country. Virtually all are nationals of accession states. Approximately 7,500 claims for non-resident non-Irish nationals have not been finalised. Based on claim uptake to date, it is anticipated that approximately 15,000 claims under EU regulations in respect of 25,500 non-national non-resident children will be processed this year.

At present, 1,600 non-Irish national children who are resident outside of Ireland are in payment. The numbers are quite small at present. While Deputy Kenny has not asked about child benefit payments, one can only make projections based on a consideration of the child benefit calculation. As for the early childhood supplement, the Department of Social and Family Affairs has only provided one estimate in which it stated that it is likely that approximately 10% of such claims will be finalised this year. Expenditure on these cases this year is unlikely to exceed €1.5 million. The Department has moved from its estimate of €1 million made at the beginning of the year and now states the figure could be between €1 million and under €1.5 million.

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