Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The cost of the early childhood supplement scheme will depend on the take-up of the scheme. According to figures provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, 50,000 non-nationals claim child benefit in respect of 120,000 children. These figures are known. Of these, 900 families with 1,600 children are resident outside of Ireland. Based on the present position, there could be claims for 1,600 children. However, Members should consider developments since the House debated this issue earlier this year. Since March, or since all Members gave much publicity to the issue, claims for non-Irish residents in Ireland are arriving at a rate of approximately 275 to 300 per week. Until then, the figures were quite low.

Between 60% and 70% of the claimants are Polish. That is the reality. Although the scheme operated for 30 years, no one used it. However, after Members publicised it, they started to send in applications.

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