Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of children for whom child benefit was paid in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and who also had a social insurance record at Classes A, S or M for the same year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33278/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Child Benefit (CB) is currently paid for 598,336 families in respect of 1,136,361 children.

The corresponding figures for the past four years are as follows:

Details on the number who also had a social insurance record at Classes A, S or M for these years is not readily available and can only be obtained through an extensive data matching exercise. Given the number of years involved and the total number of children for whom CB is in payment it is not proposed to undertake such an exercise.

It should be noted that children who are aged over 16 and in full time education are not precluded from taking part time work and paying PRSI contributions while CB remains in payment.