Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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364. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter in relation to illness benefit will be examined (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46409/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The HSE currently recommends that when someone tests positive for Covid-19 that they stay at home for 5 days and avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from Covid-19.

Since 1 January 2023, employees have a right to 3 days sick pay a year under the statutory sick leave scheme. Under that scheme, sick pay may be paid by an employer at 70% of a person’s normal pay, up to a maximum of €110 a day for the first three days of an absence due to illness. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has policy responsibility for statutory sick pay.

Illness Benefit is the main short-term income support provided by this Department to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit is based on medical certification and social insurance contribution conditions made. It is paid from the Social Insurance Fund and Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) paid under Classes A, E, H and P count towards Illness Benefit. In general, there are 3 waiting days before payment of Illness Benefit.

With regard to additional supports, this Department also provides Additional Needs Payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or in employment. The payment amount will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme, considering all the circumstances of the case.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.

The extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024.

This is a significant change to the Child Benefit payment which will require technical and operational changes to the social welfare system before implementation. For this reason, the change will take effect from September 2024. Where a child in full time education turns 18 in the meantime, they will be covered by the extension from September 2024 until they turn 19.

With many children now starting primary school at age 5 together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18 year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18 year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.