Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to the first point made by the Chairman by saying that parents will be able to apply online. It is intended that this will happen from September. There will be two aspects to what they will be applying for. In the case of the universal payment for children under the age of three, the calculation that has just been identified by the Chairman will not be required. There will be no such requirement on the part of the Department of Social Protection because it will be a universal payment.