Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 865: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applicants awaiting jobseeker's benefit for more than five weeks, more than 10 weeks and more then 15 weeks in the local social welfare offices in Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Bandon and Kinsale, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33288/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 866: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applicants awaiting jobseeker's allowance for more than five weeks, more than 10 weeks, more then 15 weeks and more than 20 weeks in the local social welfare offices in Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Bandon and Kinsale, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33289/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 865 and 866 together.

The numbers of persons awaiting Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit in some Branch Offices in County Cork are set out hereunder as requested.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 868: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the proposals contained in the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure report to reduce or means test child benefit; her views on these proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33317/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputy will be aware, the rates of child benefit have increased significantly since 2001 having trebled for the first two children and increased by over 185% for the third and subsequent children. Partly as a result of this and partly as a result of an increase in the number of eligible children, overall expenditure on child benefit grew from just €965 million in 2001 to nearly €2.5 billion in 2008. The Government is proud to have been able to direct such substantial increases in financial support to all Irish families in recent years. However, given the scale of the current economic crisis, it is necessary to address all aspects of the public finances so as to ensure that they are sustainable and to ensure that fairness exists in the allocation of resources.

It is in this context that the Minister for Finance announced at the time of the Supplementary Budget in April that the Government's intention to either subject child benefit to income tax or means-test it from 2010. In this regard, the Commission of Taxation was requested to examine the implications of taxing child benefit.

The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, was appointed with a mandate to examine all current Exchequer spending across all Departments and agencies, to see where savings might be made. The reports of the special Group and the Commission on Taxation contain a wide range of proposals relating to my Department's schemes and services, including the child benefit scheme and decisions in relation to these will be made in the context of the forthcoming Budget and subsequent Budgets. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual proposals at this stage.

The Government will be mindful of the needs of families, particularly those on lower incomes when deciding on the various options in the forthcoming Budget.