• A to Z
• Schemes and Services
• Policy & Legislation
• What's New

Children and Families

• Child Benefit will be maintained at €140 per month for each of the first two children. The rates applying to the third and each subsequent child will be standardised at €140 per child per month over the next two years. In 2012 the monthly rate for the third child will be €148 and for the fourth and each subsequent child will be €160. (January 2012)
• The grant of €635 paid at birth on all multiple births and further grants of €635 paid when the children are 4 years of age and 12 years of age will be discontinued. (January 2012)
• The age at which a child is eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be raised from 2 to 4 years of age. (2012)
• The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will reduce from €305 to €250 for children aged 12 years or more and from €200 to €150 for children aged 4-11 years. (2012)
• The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis. It will be reduced to 12 years with effect from 2012.
• Where a person claiming Invalidity Pension, Carer's Benefit, State Pension (Contributory or Transition) or Incapacity Supplement has a spouse or partner with income of over €400 a week, payment of the half-rate increase in respect of a qualified child will be discontinued. This will apply to new claimants and is in line with current arrangements for Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Injury Benefit. (July 2012)