Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Child Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their eighteenth birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Estimated expenditure on the scheme will be approximately €2.1 billion in 2023.

There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 18 years of age and in full time education. Such an extension would have significant cost implications.

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.

Budget 2023 includes a Social Welfare package of over €2.1 billion and provided for a €40 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023. In addition, all families in receipt of the payment received a €500 lump sum payment in November 2022 at an estimated cost of €23 million.

I also provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €2 to €42 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. These increases took effect from January at an estimated cost of €30.4 million in 2023.

The Government recognises the challenges of rising prices and in February announced details of a new cost-of-living measures package worth €1.2 billion. These measures include a once-off lump sum payment of €200 to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment which was paid this month and a once-off increase of €100 to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance in July.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.