Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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58. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the method used to send inquiries regarding possible changes in circumstances for those in receipt of child benefit; if there are certain categories of recipients who receive a higher number of letters checking their status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26595/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Child benefit is a payment to parents for the support of their children. It is paid to some 615,000 families in respect of 1.18 million children, with an expenditure of approximately €1.9 billion in 2014.

In order to ensure that child benefit is only paid to eligible families, a policy of issuing continuing eligibility certificates to parents commenced in 2008 and is still in operation. The child benefit control programme is kept under regular review based on the outcomes achieved, to ensure that controls in place to prevent fraud and abuse continue to be effective and relevant. The Department undertook approximately 400,000 continuing eligibility reviews of child benefit customers in 2014. This control activity generated some €70 million in savings in respect of expenditure that would otherwise have occurred.

In 2015, a continuing eligibility certificate will issue to all Irish, including naturalised Irish, customers and to EU customers who are paid by EFT and based on their residency in Ireland. Two certificates will issue to all customers from outside of the EU and to all customers, including Irish, who are paid or part paid child benefit in Ireland on the basis of their continued employment within the EU.

I am satisfied that appropriate controls are in place and implemented, ensuring child benefit is only paid to eligible families.