Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce the amount of child benefit being paid annually in respect of persons that are resident outside the State; the avenues that are open to her to see that this matter will be tackled; if she has a country breakdown of where this money is going; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5161/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The social welfare entitlements of EU citizens who come to live and work in Ireland are governed by EU Regulations on the coordination of social security systems. A key requirement of these regulations is that EU citizens living and working here must be accorded equal treatment with Irish citizens. The regulations are viewed by the EU as an important element in the arrangements in place to encourage and facilitate free movement across the Union.

Child Benefit is classed as a family benefit for the purposes of the regulations. Generally speaking the competent State for the payment of benefits for a worker and his/her family is the country of employment. Accordingly, a person working here is entitled to receive Irish child benefit in respect of his/her children, even if they are resident in another EU country. Payments are adjusted to take account of any payments the person may receive based on the domestic legislation of the country in which the children are resident.

The cost of payments in respect of children resident in other EU countries was €13.2 million in 2012. This is substantially lower than the level of payments in 2008 which were at a high of €20.9 million. A breakdown by country is not readily available.

I have raised the question of reducing child benefit payments in respect of children resident in other countries to reflect local conditions, with colleagues from other countries and with the EU Commissioner. The latter is strongly opposed to any such change because of the importance the EU attaches to free movement and the measures in place to support this, and because of legal precedence set by the Courts of Justice of the EU. Any amendment to the current arrangements would require a proposal for legislative change from the EU Commission and given the position adopted on this matter by the Commissioner it is highly unlikely that such a proposal would be forthcoming. In the circumstances, it will be difficult to effect any change in this area but I will continue to raise the matter with colleagues and the Commission when the opportunity presents itself.