Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the upper age limit for payments under the qualified child allowance scheme, beyond 22 years of age, due to the large numbers remaining in education and dependent on parents whose only income is social protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21898/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Increases for a Qualified Child Qualified (IQCs) are paid as child-related supplements to most weekly social welfare payments in recognition of the need for greater incomes among benefit-dependent households with dependent children. The current full rate of payment is €29.80 per week per dependent child. Expenditure on IQCs in 2015 was in the region of €597 million.

Along with IQCs, families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:

- Family Income Supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;

- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).

The main financial support available to students attending higher education courses is the statutory based student grant scheme. This scheme, which is administered by SUSI, offers a means-tested grant scheme that provides maintenance and-or fee support to qualifying disadvantaged students.

The combined effect of these schemes provides effective targeted assistance directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education. There are currently no plans to increase the upper age limit for payments under the Qualified Child Allowance Scheme, beyond 22 years of age.