I thank the Minister for taking this question. Is he aware that some parents have not received child benefit payments this month? I have received several reports of child benefit payments for children aged 16 being suspended. Before the onset of Covid-19, parents were required to have a form stamped by school authorities confirming that their child was proceeding into fourth or fifth year. The requirement was deferred last year because of the pandemic. I understand that many parents were not aware of this requirement and some did not receive forms. They now find themselves without child benefit payments. This will clearly have implications as preparations are made for the return to school in September. I contacted the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, asking her to investigate this issue. Groups such as Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids, SPARK, and Barnardos Ireland have also been in contact with the Department of Social Protection. Will the Minister raise this issue with the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that payments will be reinstated, pending certification, in September?

I am informed that an issue has arisen this week where payments have not issued in respect of 17-year-olds. Payments in respect of 40% of the 60,000 children in this age group have been impacted, but all other payments to the children and families concerned have been issued. I understand the Department has received calls and representations on this matter and it is working to have these payments restored and reissued in the next two weeks. The child benefit cases involved will also be put back into payment to September. Certification forms will issue to those parents for completion by their schools when they reopen to ensure continuation of payments to those parents from October.