Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which she intends to physically pay the early child care supplement to parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10903/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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While the Office of the Minister for Children, OMC, is responsible for the early child care supplement, the administrative arrangements for the payment will be dealt with by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, acting on an agency basis on behalf of the OMC.

I understand that the Department of Social and Family Affairs is taking the necessary steps to put these arrangements in place and that they are at an advanced stage and will operate in a way which enables parents to receive the early child care supplement in the same way as they currently receive their child benefit payment. For example, a parent receiving child benefit by means of an EFT transfer to his or her bank account will receive the supplement, which will be paid on a quarterly basis, by this means also.

I understand that full details of the arrangements for the payment will be sent to parents of eligible children in the coming weeks.