asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will consider continuing the payment of children's allowances in respect of all children who attend educational institutions.

Under present legislation children's allowances are already payable in respect of all children who are in full-time education, up to the age of 18 years.

This question will be reviewed in the light of the proposals to replace child tax allowance with an augmented child benefit scheme as included in the Programme for Government 1981-1986.

Would the Minister agree that the effect of the recent budget and the marked shift to indirect taxation are currently placing an extreme burden on families who have children receiving third-level education and that consequently it is now more important than ever to ensure that some assistance is given?

Those attending third level education have been very well treated by this Government at a time of grave economic recession and the level of payments is extremely generous. It amounts to significant maintenance support for children in that situation. The whole question will be reviewed in the light of our proposals to introduce a child benefit in place of a child tax allowance. All these matters will be taken into consideration at that time.

Is the Minister not aware that this improvement in grants, which has been very rapidly eroded by steps recently taken by the Government, does not apply to existing students?

The improvements in grants apply to all new students. They benefit not only from the increase in grant levels but also from the increase in eligibility limits which was quite significant and would include most of the lower and moderate wage-earners. Those already in receipt of a grant also got an increase.

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