Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1167: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on extending the age limit regarding child benefit from 19 up to the age of 22 when that person is still attending college. [1809/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Child benefit is a universal payment, paid in respect of children up to the age of 16 years. It 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. Commitment to this policy is reflected in the significant resources invested in the scheme since 2001, increasing monthly payments to €160.00 for each of the first two children and €195.00 for the third and subsequent children from April 2007. According to figures collected by the Central Statistics Office under the Quarterly National Household Survey for the period June 2006 to August 2006, there were an estimated 93,500 students aged 19 to 22 years. Extending child benefit to this category would entail substantial cost, estimated to be in the region of some €187 million annually.

However, in recognition of the need to target limited available resources at persons on low incomes with children in full-time education, a number of provisions have been introduced, including the extension of entitlement to child dependant allowance to age 22 where the parent of a full-time student (including third level) is in receipt of either a long-term social welfare payment, or 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).

In addition, in-work cash payments are provided to low-paid employees with families through the family income supplement (FIS) scheme. Under this scheme, a qualified child is any child under the age of 18 or aged 18 to 22 if in full-time education. This supplement is paid where a family's weekly income is below a specified income limit for the family size, and is calculated at 60% of the difference between the net family income (gross pay less tax, PRSI, health contribution, superannuation) and the relevant income limit.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1168: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the carer's allowance. [1810/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for carer's allowance on 10 May 2006. The case has been referred to an Investigative Officer of my Department to determine that all the conditions for receipt of the allowance are satisfied in respect of both care recipients. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These Officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1169: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the one parent family allowance. [1957/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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There is a statutory obligation on all claimants of a one-parent family payment to satisfy the conditions for entitlement to payment.

The person concerned applied for one-parent family payment on 30 March 2006. The Social Welfare Inspector tried unsuccessfully to contact her on a number of occasions. Her claim was finally investigated in October 2007. In response to the Social Welfare Inspector's report that he was not satisfied that the person concerned was in fact separated from her partner, the Deciding Officer communicated with the person concerned informing her of the Social Welfare Inspectors report and inviting her to clarify her position in this regard.