Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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446. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will consider extending the duration of child benefit to last until a child has completed secondary school in order to benefit those who turn 19 in their sixth year of secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47734/21]

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 to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2020.

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

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

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

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 2021.

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.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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447. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the full rate of disability allowance will be restored to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47755/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Following a review of the entitlement of the person concerned, it was found that he had a decrease in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my Department, a maximum rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 30 June 2021.

A letter issued to the person concerned informing him of this on 29 September 2021. Arrears of payment due have issued to the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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448. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application by a person (details supplied) for a living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47764/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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449. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility of a person (details supplied) for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47765/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 449 together.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a reduced rate of Illness Benefit from the Department, based on her earnings in the relevant tax year. She is also in receipt of a top-up payment by way of a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance to bring her to the appropriate income level for her household circumstances.

The Illness Benefit payment, which is her primary payment, is not a qualifying payment for either the fuel allowance or the living alone allowance. As the person concerned has not been in receipt of basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for 15 months, this claim would not qualify for the Fuel Allowance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.