I am assuming the Deputy is seeking parity of treatment for parents of twins with other parents of multiple births.
Prior to 1998, child benefit was payable at the normal rate for each child in the case of twins. However, a grant of €635, or £500, was payable at birth and further grants of €635 were payable when the twins reached the ages of four and 12. Child benefit was paid at double the normal rate where three or more children were born together. However, no birth grants were payable in the case of triplets.
In 1998, two key additional measures were introduced, designed to improve the overall package of benefits available to parents of multiple births. First, the €635 grants were extended to include families with multiple births of three or more children. Second, the rate of child benefit payable in respect of each twin was increased to one and a half times the normal child benefit rate.
Currently, double rate child benefit is in payment in respect of 270 sets of triplets, 11 sets of quadruplets and one set of quintuplets — 859 children in all. An increase to double the rate for twins as with other multiple births in respect of the 26,500 children involved would cost an estimated €22 million in a full year.
Any further changes in the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the context of priorities generally.
The very substantial investment in the child benefit scheme in recent years, including the historic increases since 2001, have benefited all families with children.