Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a demand-led scheme. I can assure the Deputy that the people who qualify and submit their applications will get the funding. There is no doubt about that. With regard to the numbers who have claimed this year, it is some 22,000 people already. We would expect that to double. Last year in 2021 it was 51,395 applications. Up to the end of May this year 27,488 claims were awarded. Given it was 51,020 in 2021 and 27,488 to the end of May this year, I would be very surprised if we do not exceed the figures from 2021. The funding is there for it. I would encourage as many people as possible to take it up. In Deputy Burke's county of Cork, 6,629 people have claimed the parent's benefit from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. I have a list of the counties. Dublin, of course, is the highest with 13,400 people who have claimed the benefit.

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