Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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515. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying a double child benefit payment to parents on the birth of a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14736/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Child benefit is paid to 630,000 qualifying adults in respect of over 1.2 million children with an annual cost in 2018 of €2.1 billion.

The estimated full-year cost of issuing a double child benefit payment to parents on the birth of a child is approximately €8.72 million.

This estimate is based on the number of child benefit claims (61,856) received in respect of first and additional children in 2018.  It assumes the payment of €140, representing an additional month’s payment in respect of these children.  Multiple births are paid a higher rate and this additional cost has been factored in to the estimate.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.