Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if being a child in care under the age of 16 years has any future bearing on an application for a means tested payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47340/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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When applying for a means tested social assistance payment a claimant must satisfy the eligibility conditions for the relevant scheme. The fact that the person may have been in care prior to reaching 16 years of age is not relevant for the purposes of a means test.

However, in the case of jobseeker’s allowance, the Deputy may wish to note that the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance for people aged under 25 do not apply to people who were in the care of the Health Service Executive at any stage during the period of 12 months before he or she reached the age of 18. This provision is not impacted by the measures announced in the recent Budget in relation to the weekly rates of jobseeker’s allowance payable to certain other jobseekers aged 25 and under.