Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The introduction of this payment is a highly popular initiative of the Department. Unfortunately, we cannot backdate payments ten years or longer in these cases. On the question of a potential payment at the other end of the spectrum, we are certainly open to any suggestions in the context of the budget, although that process will not get under way for a while. We have made changes in respect of child benefit in recent years. As I have said, these changes relate particularly to children who are in full-time education. The payment used to be cut off at the age of 18 regardless of where you were. We have made some changes there. We recognise that end of the spectrum is particularly challenging and expensive for parents. Supports are available there. As I previously said to Deputy O'Gorman, I am very focused on the area of child poverty and how the child benefit payment interacts with existing payments. It is something I intend to do a lot of work on during my time in this Ministry.

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