Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

These payments, which will be exempt from income tax and levies, will be made on a quarterly basis in respect of more than 350,000 children who are less than six years of age. The first payment will be made in mid-2006 and will cover the second quarter of 2006. This scheme will cost €265 million in 2006 and €353 million in a full year.

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