Leap Year babies: €100 treat from the State

Leap day babies Sarah Flanagan and Daniel Talbot were among the first new arrivals born at the National Maternity Hospital yesterday to be treated to a birthday present of €100 from the Government.

The once-off gift is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, according to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan.

Sarah, born 7lbs 2oz at 3.45 a.m., is the first child of Ms Martina Flanagan and Mr James Kennedy, living in Monkstown but originally from Raheny and Dún Laoghaire respectively.

The money would be going straight into a bank account for Sarah, Mr Kennedy said, although he was tempted to use it to pay the €80 parking fine he got after being clamped around the corner from the hospital when he brought Ms Flanagan in on Saturday.

"I got a load of texts when I came in last night from people telling me to hold until today to get the €100, but I can promise you I didn't do it on purpose," Ms Flanagan said

"It's a nice start in life and I suppose it's good to get her saving early. The big question now is what day to celebrate her birthday on next year," she added.

Daniel, who weighed in at 8lbs 9 oz, was born a little over an hour before Sarah and is also the first in the family for Mark and Sirpa Talbot, who have been married 15 years. "We hadn't known about the money but it's a nice surprise to get and it will buy the first few nappies, at least," Mr Talbot said.

There are an estimated 4.1 million leap day babies in the world, and there is a one in 1,461 chance of being born on February 29th. Some 165 babies were born in Irish maternity hospitals yesterday.

Payments will be made to each child, with the parents of twins, triplets or larger multiple births entitled to a payment for each baby, Ms Coughlan said. "This payment of €100 to these very special babies will commence the Government-funded celebrations of the Year of the Family. These are very special children who will only get to celebrate their real birth date once every four years, and I introduced this special payment as a special welcome to them in this special year," Ms Coughlan said.

As part of a series of events throughout the year, Ms Coughlan said she intends to establish a fund so that family groups around the State can stage their own celebrations.