Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has assessed the impact of cutting off children's allowance at 18 years of age; the impact this has had on child poverty; if there is a corresponding increase in applications for supplementary welfare allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2270/10]

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the assistance available to the parents of an 18 year old still at school, in lieu of the children's allowance that ceased upon reaching the age of 18. [2302/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 248 together.

Child benefit (CB) is a tax free non means tested benefit paid monthly in respect of all children up to the age 16 years and in respect of children over 16 years of age up to their 18th birthday who are in full time education or have a disability. Child Benefit assists parents in the cost associated with raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty.

It was decided in Budget 2009 to limit spending on Child Benefit by lowering the upper age limit that currently applies from 19 years to 18 years. The impact of this measure was phased in, with payment for existing and future qualifying children being halved from January 2009 and payment stopping from the 18th birthday from January 2010.

A compensatory payment of €15 was provided during 2009 and will continue in 2010 for any week during which those affected by this measure are receiving a social welfare payment which includes an increase in respect of the 18 year old child or a family income supplement payment which includes payment in respect of that child.

Calculation of child poverty for SILC is measured as the proportion of all children aged 17 years or younger who live in households that have an income below the 60 per cent of median income poverty line and it is not expected that a measure directed at those over 18 years will have an impact on this measure. Results from the most recent survey of Income and Living Conditions in Ireland (IRL-SILC) 2008 survey published in Nov 2009 showed the consistent poverty rate for children, aged 0-17, decreased from 7.4% in 2007 to 6.3% in 2008. The percentage of children 'at risk of poverty' fell by almost two per cent, from 19.9% in 2007 to 18% in 2008. These are the most recent figures SILC figures available.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). SWA provides a safety net against poverty in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly income, based on criteria set out in legislation. Statistics in relation to the number of extra claims – if any – arising from the impact of the changes in child benefit scheme are not maintained by the community welfare division of the HSE and accordingly it is not possible to supply statistics in this regard.

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 Increase for Qualified Child, payable to social welfare recipients in respect of qualifying child dependants, 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 Jobseeker's Benefit and Assistance, Illness Benefit and Supplementary Welfare Allowance), and

The provision of a weekly payment 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 in full-time education. This supplement is paid where a family's weekly income is below a specified amount for the family size, and is calculated at 60% of the difference between the net family income (i.e. gross pay less tax, PRSI, health contribution, superannuation) and the relevant income limit.

Low income families may also be entitled to a Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is administered by the Health Service Executive and operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in processing the application for unemployment benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if this will be processed without any further delay. [2278/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for Jobseeker's Benefit, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a deciding officer of the Department on the ground that he did not sustain a substantial loss of employment from 21 April 2009 and he appealed against the decision on 4 June 2009. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the relevant Departmental papers and comments on the grounds of appeal in the case were sought. These have now been received and have been referred to an Appeals Officer for consideration.

There has been a 46% increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2009 when compared to 2008, which in itself was 27% greater than the numbers received in 2007. This has caused delays in the processing of appeals. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.