John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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533. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for an invalidity pension will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [25669/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The Department received a claim for IP for this gentleman on 16 March 2021.  The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 30 March 2021 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned subsequently appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and submitted further medical evidence in support of his appeal. 

Following a review of all the information available it was decided that there was no change to the original decision.  A submission has been prepared by the Department and was forwarded to the SWAO on 12 May 2021 for determination.  The SWAO will be in touch with the person concerned directly in due course in relation to the progress of his appeal.

A new IP application has been received from the person concerned on 01 April 2021.  This claim will be processed further after the original claim is determined by the SWAO. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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534. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department is considering extending child benefit to children aged 18 or older while they are in full-time education or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25672/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Child benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years.  The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.  Child benefit is currently paid, as of end-March 2021, to over 637,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2 billion in 2020.

Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of other social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including: 

- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments; 

- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; 

- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance 

These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.

As part of Budget 2021, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €38 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €5 to €45 per week.  These increases came into effect in January.

Extending Child Benefit in respect of full time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.