Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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478. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 971 of 16 June 2020, if she will consider using her discretion in circumstances in which an application was to be made for child benefit by the father of an Irish citizen child based on a situation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13732/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Child Benefit is payable in respect of children who are ordinarily resident in the State, regardless of citizenship, provided the applicant satisfies the habitual residence condition.

As a family benefit, Child Benefit is exportable in cases where an applicant is working in Ireland but where the child is living in another EU/EEA state. However, the exportability of Child Benefit does not extend to children who are living in non-EU/EEA states, regardless of the citizenship of the child.

Under Irish legislation, child benefit is paid to the parent that the child resides with predominantly and therefore, as outlined previously, the individual referred to does not appear to satisfy the conditions for payment under domestic or EU legislation.

There are no plans at present to amend the qualifying conditions for child benefit. Child benefit is paid to an applicant in respect of a child, and therefore it is the applicant who must satisfy the qualifying conditions. This is regardless of the citizenship of the child.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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479. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding applications for child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13733/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Child benefit is the main policy instrument for assisting families with the costs of raising children. It is a universal payment and is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years, or to the age of 18 in respect of children who are in full-time education or who have a disability.

In order for payment to continue beyond the age of 16, proof of attendance at school or college is required and this is the case for all children, including those attending school elsewhere in Europe.

There are no conditions applying to Irish nationals over and above those applying to all child benefit recipients. For children aged under 16 it may be necessary on occasion to seek further information to establish residency, but again this applies to all customers.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.