Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue. One in ten primary school children and one in six secondary school children miss more than 20 days of school every year, one eighth of the secondary school year. Last year, almost 1,500 children left school and were not recorded as turning up in secondary school. We have a severe problem that is building serious social issues for the future.

A number of years ago Deputy Bruton proposed that children be paid to remain in school. We cannot afford to do that in the current economic circumstances, but we cannot afford to do nothing either. I propose the abolition of child benefit for school-age children and its replacement with a school attendance payment. This would take account of children who are ill or home-schooled, and would be paid in the same manner and at the same rate as child benefit. Not only would this keep children in school; it would also save the Exchequer between €100 million and €135 million annually. The administration system is already in place and I seek some joined-up thinking in the interest of children, families and the taxpayer. Annually, the control division of the Department of Social Protection brings in savings of between €75 million and €85 million under the child benefit scheme. In addition, €4 million to €5 million is sought from overpayments annually. Introducing such a payment system would also have a significant impact on child benefit fraud and over-claims, saving the taxpayer €10.5 million to €36 million per year.

To date the Department of Social Protection has opposed such a move on the basis that it would be illegal under EU law, as this would mean child benefit would no longer be paid to parents living in Ireland whose children reside in another EU country. However, this proposal would be a fraud prevention measure while also helping to address truancy and cutting down on bureaucracy, rather than focusing solely on stopping the €13.2 million that is paid annually in respect of children who live elsewhere in Europe. As a result, this would not only address the issues under EU law, but would also meet some of the criteria laid down by the European Central Bank and Ireland's EU targets for reducing red tape and streamlining government.

Disappointingly, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, and her Department have failed even to put such a proposal forward at EU level. Disappointingly, the Department continues to issue 600,000 letters a year, enough to wallpaper Croke Park Stadium two and a half times, to try to save this money when a simple system could not only save the money but also ensure that children attend school. It is time we started to do things differently in Ireland and act in the interests of people by joining up government. We cannot continue to do things as we did them in the past, especially when it takes money out of the pockets of families.

Finally, I give the example of Jenny, who is six years of age. In December, her school principal contacted the National Education Welfare Board to say she had been absent for 65 days. The education welfare officer contacted the family, called to them, wrote to them and issued legal threats, and eventually the family ended up in court. The mother was fined €200 and the father €300. Since they went to court Jenny has attended school, but it should not have cost the taxpayer nearly €24,000 and Jenny a year of school before action was taken to bring that about. This initiative can work; it can ensure that young people attend school and save the taxpayer money.

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