Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of plans to extend child benefit for those continuing in secondary education but who have turned 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18135/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this. I propose to take questions Nos. 11 and 48 together.

In budget 2024, the Govemment decided to extend the payment of child benefit to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or have a disability. This was one of my key priorities in the budget. With many children now starting primary school at age five, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. The extension of child benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.

There is a significant change to the child benefit scheme. It requires technical and operational changes before implementation. We had originally provided that the change would take effect from September this year. However, I am very pleased that we are now able to bring in this important change from an earlier date. The required legislation was enacted last month. As a result, the measure will be brought in from May.

My Department has been in contact with all recipients of child benefit to advise of the next steps. In the case of a child who has already turned 18 and who is still in full-time education, child benefit will be payable again from May 2024 up to their 19th birthday, or until they leave full-time education, whichever is sooner. Where the child has a disability, there is no requirement to be in full-time education and the payment can continue until their 19th birthday.

In the region of 60,000 children are expected to benefit from this measure annually. The additional estimated cost of bringing forward the commencement date to May is €21.6 million. This brings the total estimated cost of this measure to €43.2 million in 2024.

Child benefit is one of the few tools at my disposal that I can use to support working families. As part of recent budgets, I have prioritised double payments and lump-sum payments on child benefit. I know these extra payments have been very important for families, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

I was talking to a woman the other day who told me she uses the child benefit payment to pay for grinds for her daughter for the leaving certificate. She was absolutely delighted with the change, and that we will be continuing to make that payment while they are in full-time education up to the age of 19. We know things have changed now. Children are starting school a little older, which is probably no harm either in my book, as there is a lot going on in preschool, which is preparation for them to go to primary school. They are starting later, and then they have the transition year. That means that a lot of young people are in full-time secondary education at the age of 18. That is why I was very keen to make this change to allow parents to receive child benefit until their children reach the age of 19. I am glad to have been in a position to bring it forward to 1 May.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It was originally planned to take effect next September so I asked my officials to expedite the work on this. Some work needs to be done when we change payments. The IT systems have to be updated. We got the legislation passed last month, the systems are ready to go, and it will take effect from May.

I would say to the parents whose children just turned 18 in February, for example, to contact my Department and reapply. It is just a matter of confirming they are in full-time education and putting in the application. They will continue to get the payment until they reach the age of 19. That is something people should be aware of. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I encourage parents to make sure they get the application in. It is about reapplying. That is certainly worth their while.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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As there is still no one here for Priority Questions, I will go to Deputy Cannon's next question and then I will go to Deputy Murnane O'Connor. If those who tabled Priority Questions arrive, I will go back and take those questions.