Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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991. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to respond to proposals raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of expanding the children's allowance to children aged 18 years in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37566/23]

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.

Extending Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 18 years of age and in full time education would have significant cost implications 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

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.