Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the estimated increase in the cost of welfare claims in 2007 arising from the entitlement of EU migrant workers to the new child care supplement and child benefit; the level of increase in applications for such benefits that has been evident since the beginning of 2006; his views on these increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31738/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the estimated cost of paying child benefit to EU migrants in 2006. [31789/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 183 together.

EU migrant workers have an entitlement to Child Benefit and other "Family benefits" including Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) under EU Regulation 1408/71. Where a national of an EU State with a family is working in Ireland, the worker is entitled to payment of such benefits, even if the children are resident in the worker's home country.

Applications for family benefits from EU migrant workers who come to live in Ireland with their families are dealt with under domestic legislation. Entitlement to Child Benefit is based on the applicant satisfying the Habitual Residency condition and the child being ordinarily resident in Ireland.

Currently there are just over 31,000 EU nationals in receipt of Child Benefit for 56,000 children who are resident with them in Ireland. Of these the majority of recipients, some 16,500 — are UK nationals, with a further 10,500 recipients from the ten States that joined the EU in 2004.

EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families remain in their home country may have an entitlement to Family Benefits in Ireland under EU Regulation 1408/71. Before payment of Child Benefit is made for non-resident children it is necessary to contact the authorities in the country of residency of the children to confirm details and establish what if any family benefits are payable there.

This process can take a number of months to complete and, as a result, the number of claims that have been finalised to date is relatively small. There are approximately 10,500 claims at various stages of processing and awaiting finalisation. The number of claims to Child Benefit and Early Child Supplement in respect of non resident children of EU nationals has, since the start of 2006, averaged close to 300 per week. Applications reached a peak of 400 per week in June but have been reducing somewhat in the months since.

At the start of 2006, Child Benefit was in payment under EU regulations for 650 families, in respect of 1320 children resident outside of the Republic of Ireland. Currently there are some 560 families, with 1325 children receiving Child Benefit and resident outside Ireland. Some 90% of these children are resident in the UK. The reduction in the numbers of families in payment is due to changes in the eligibility of UK residents who, because of increases in family benefits in the UK, are no longer eligible for any payment from my Department.

The total child benefit expenditure for EU migrants with non resident children in respect of 2006 is estimated at €36m or 1.8% of overall child benefit expenditure of €2.04 billion. The total cost in 2007 is difficult to estimate but on current trends, the potential accrued cost could be of the order of €80m. The corresponding figures for early childcare supplement are €8m in respect of 2006 and €17m in respect of 2007.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will increase the qualified adult allowance to 100% of the personal rate as promised in Sustaining Progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31829/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In the recently negotiated social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, which succeeds Sustaining Progress, the Government and social partners agreed to work together over a ten-year period to enhance pension provision and income supports, including an increase in the level of qualified adult allowance (QAA) for pensioner spouses to the level of the state non-contributory pension.

The cost, based on current rates of payment, of bringing all of the relevant QAA rates up to the level of the non-contributory pension personal rate is €57 million in a full year. In that context, further progress on aligning the relevant rates would fall to be considered in a Budgetary context.