Child Benefit increases for more than one million children from over half a million families will come into effect this week, the Minister for Social Affairs, Seamus Brennan has announced.
"Child Benefit is being increased by €10 a month for the first and second child and by €12 a month for the third and each subsequent child. This will result in Child Benefit of €141.60 a month for each of the first two children and €177.30 for the third and subsequent children," Mr Brennan said.
He said payments under the scheme have now increased fourfold in the past 10 years.
"The projected level of social welfare expenditure in 2005 will be over €12.25 billion, €1 billion more than in 2004. This is more than double what was being spent in 1997. This level of expenditure is a clear demonstration of this Government's commitment to addressing the needs of people with disabilities and their carers, children, the elderly, widowed persons, the unemployed, those who are parenting alone and many others who are disadvantaged."
Some 970,000 will claim weekly social welfare payments this year, Mr Brennan said.
Mr Brennan said the National Economic and Social Council had been commissioned to devise a structure for "a second tier of supports" in addition to Child Benefit and other payments, aimed at reducing child poverty.
Those who receive their Child Benefit by electronic methods will receive the increase tomorrow. Families who are paid by book payment will get the increase for April and May in a voucher to be picked up at their local post office on the first Tuesday in May.