Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1300. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason child benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) for the past three months before they turned 18 years of age; and if the payment will now be made as they are now on a full-time course. [13712/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Child benefit is only paid after the age of 16 if the child is still at school/college. It is paid to the end of the academic year, unless the child is continuing in education at the start of the next term – in effect, payment ends in June unless schooling is continued in September and the child is still under 18.

Child benefit stops in all circumstances when the child turns 18.

In this instance, it appears that the child concerned did not return to school in September. Based on the information available to the Department, he has now commenced an apprenticeship, but this would not make him eligible for child benefit arrears, as the apprenticeship only began in March 2019, when he was already 19, beyond the age at which child benefit is payable.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.