Written answers

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Department of Social Protection

Child Benefit Eligibility

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her policy in relation to the payment of child benefit to children aged over 16 and in full-time education; if confirmation of enrolment at a secondary school is required for each year of school enrolment between the ages of 16 and 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20169/14]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Child benefit is a monthly payment to assist with the costs associated with raising children. It is paid to around 616,000 families in respect of some 1.17 million children, with an estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion in 2014. I am conscious that child benefit is an important source of income for all families.

Child benefit as a “universal” payment is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years and reflects the situation whereby school attendance is a statutory requirement for children up to that age. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education or who have a disability. For continued payment of child benefit, parents with school going children at age 16 and at age 17 have to submit a form to the Department, certified by the child’s school or college, confirming that their children are in full-time education for each of these years. I am satisfied that the requirement for school attendance for children aged 16 and 17 years in receipt of child benefit is an effective measure in terms of education and social protection policy.

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