Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average length of time for an application for child benefit to be processed; the reason families must wait so long; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34277/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There is no delay in processing the majority of Child Benefit applications. Awards on behalf of Irish-born children are processed either automatically or in a partially automated way using the child's birth details when they are registered with the General Registrar's Office. Parents are contacted by the Child Benefit office within two days of the registration of their child's birth. The Early Childcare Supplement is paid automatically when Child Benefit is awarded.

Currently there are delays in processing Child Benefit for children born outside Ireland who have come to live in Ireland with their parents or who reside in another EU member state but have an entitlement to Irish Child Benefit under EU regulations.

In the case of non Irish born children resident in Ireland, the process is slow as the customer must satisfy the Habitual Residency condition test and this may entail contacting employers, Department of Justice and other relevant bodies to confirm their status in the state. The residency of the children in Ireland must also be confirmed. This additional complexity, combined with an increase in the volume of applications received in recent years, has led to arrears of claims to be processed. Additional staff resources have been assigned to this area and it is envisaged that all arrears on hand will be cleared during the first half of 2009.

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 residence of the children to confirm details and establish what, if any, family benefits are payable in the home country as this will determine entitlement to Irish payments. This process can take a number of months to complete in normal circumstances.

The number of claims received from EU nationals for non-resident children is down approximately 50% on the same period last year. Applications currently being received are being processed within normal timeframes. The arrears of claims on hand are being processed by additional temporary staff recruited for this purpose and it is anticipated that these applications will all be finalised by mid 2009.