James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans regarding twin and multiple births in relation to the cutbacks in child benefit as proposed by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35079/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Child benefit is a monthly payment made in respect of qualified children to assist in the costs associated with child rearing. Currently the standard monthly rates of child benefit in respect of single births are €166.00 in respect of each of the first and second child and € 203.00 for the third and subsequent children. In addition, with regard to multiple births, parents of twins are paid child benefit at one and a half times the standard monthly rate for each qualified child. Child benefit is paid in respect of multiple births of triplets or more at double the normal monthly rate for each qualified child. Furthermore a special grant of €635.00 is paid in respect of multiple births at the birth and further grants of €635.00 when the children reach age 4 and 12 years.

As you 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.

Overall expenditure on child benefit has grown from just under €965 million in 2001 to nearly €2.5 billion in 2008 as a result of these increases and growth in the number of eligible children.

The Government was 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 expenditure programmes, including social welfare programmes, so as to avoid excessive borrowing and to ensure that fairness exists in the allocation of resources. The report by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended the introduction of a standard rate of Child Benefit for all children. This would have implications for households with three children or more as well as those with twins or other multiple births where rates per child which are higher than the standard are paid. Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government in the context of overall taxation policy and the prevailing social and economic environment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35151/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent Supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

The Executive has advised that an application for rent supplement in this case was refused on the basis that the person concerned did not have a housing need as she had alternative accommodation available to her. The person concerned successfully appealed this decision to an appeals officer of the Executive and was notified of this decision by letter on 25th September 2009.

She was recently advised by a community welfare officer to seek suitable rented accommodation and was provided with the relevant application form for rent supplement. The Executive has advised that it has not yet received a completed application form the person concerned.