Vulnerable Children and Low Income Families will be Protected from Reductions in Child Benefit

The monthly Child Benefit rates have been reduced to €150 per child for the 1st and 2nd child and €187 per child for the 3rd and subsequent children. However, through the weekly increase in the Qualified Child payment, Social Welfare recipients will be protected from the reduction as the Qualified Child Increase paid to those getting social welfare payments will increase by €3.80 to €29.80 per child per week.