Varadkar may give child benefit to young adults in school

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar is looking at extending child benefit to students who have reached their 18th birthday but are still in full-time education.

Mr Varadkar said the issue had been raised by newly elected Fianna Fáil TD Frank O’Rourke, who had pointed out that it was quite common for students aged 18 and older to be still at school.

In a Dáil response last week, the minister told Mr O’Rourke that the child benefit scheme was introduced at a time when few children completed transition year.