Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1061. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has conducted an analysis of the cost of extending the child benefit payment to all second level students over the age of 18 years; if there are plans to extend the payment in this way as a response to the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20567/22]

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 an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022. 

There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age.  Such an extension would have significant cost implications, estimated at €33 million, and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context. 

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 (IQCs) 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 2022, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €40 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €3 to €48 per week, from January.  I increased the level of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by €10 to €160 for each child aged 4 to 11 years and to €285 for each child aged 12 and over.  I also equalised the income limits for one and two parent households, thereby making it easier for lone parents to qualify for that payment. 

The Government recognised the challenges of rising prices last October in Budget 2022 when we brought in a package of tax and social welfare measures worth over €1 billion.  In February, the Government agreed a further package of €505 million, including the €200 energy credit and a lump sum payment of €125 for those in receipt of the fuel allowance.  Last month the Government brought in a further tax measure, to immediately reduce the cost of fuels for families and businesses.

Budget 2022 also provided for a €10 weekly increase in the income limits for Working Family Payment, and I am pleased that this has now come into effect from April, 2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.