Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason he terminates the payment of child benefit to parents when a child in full-time education reaches the age of 19; and if he will consider changing this in order to bring it into line with the age 22 cut-off point which applies in respect of the child dependant allowance. [20269/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Child benefit is payable up to the age of 16 years and continues to be paid in respect of children up to age 19 who are in full-time education, or who have a physical or mental disability.

The policy of the Government over the past number of years has been to substantially increase the amount spent on child benefit for all families. The Government's commitment to this policy is reflected in the substantial resources invested in the child benefit scheme since 1997.

According to figures collected under the quarterly national household survey by the Central Statistics Office for the final quarter of 2004, there were an estimated 84,400 students aged 19 to 22 years. Extending child benefit to this category would therefore cost in the region of €144 million per annum.

In recognition of the need to target resources towards low-income families with children in full-time education, child dependant allowances are paid to social welfare recipients in respect of qualified children to age 22 where the parent has been in receipt of a short-term social welfare payment for six months or more. Short-term schemes include such payments as unemployment benefit and assistance, disability benefit and supplementary welfare allowance. This provision also applies to recipients of long-term payments.