Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Child Support.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

341 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the additional cost to the Exchequer of increasing child benefit by £1 each for the first, second and subsequent children from April 2001 and from October 2001. [26691/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

It is estimated that increasing the monthly child benefit rates payable in respect of the first two children, and the third and subsequent children, by £1 respectively, would cost an additional £12.66 million in a full year.

The estimated annual cost of paying the increase in October 2001 would be approximately £3 million. To further bring forward the increase by six months to April 2001, would result in additional annual costs of approximately £6.5 million.

Question No. 342 taken with Question No. 339.