Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the range of payments and supports to families where it is clear that the family need additional support particularly in the area of an out of control child; the level of one to one supports available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37097/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no function in providing supports specifically in the case of families with an out of control child. Personal Social Services and Child Welfare are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children.

The main function of my Department is the provision of income support payments including social insurance payments funded by the Social Insurance Fund, social assistance payments funded by the Vote, the provision of secondary benefits such as free fuel, household benefits package and the payment of universal schemes such as child benefit.

Within that remit my Department aims to support and promote families and to attain better outcomes in tackling poverty and achieving a more inclusive society through co-operating, developing and implementing national anti-poverty strategies, and through the provision of income and other support services for people in debt or at risk of experiencing hardship.

My Department also aims to ensure the well being of all children through income support with child rearing costs in general, including those which arise in circumstances of particular need or disadvantage.

The principal child income support is child benefit, a universal payment that is neutral regarding the employment status of the child's parents and does not contribute to poverty traps. While child benefit supports all children it delivers proportionately more assistance to larger families. My Department also administers the early childcare supplement on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children.

In addition to child benefit support most social welfare payments provide for an increase in respect of qualified children. Family needs are addressed through the provision of increases in respect of dependent adults or children which are payable in addition to the particular personal weekly rate of a social welfare payment.

Finally, the family income supplement scheme gives extra financial support to employees with families, on low pay.