Government officials only appear to have realised that the €1,000-a-year childcare supplement was also payable to children of EU migrant workers a month after it was announced in last year's budget, it has emerged.
The entitlement of EU migrant workers to the childcare supplement and child benefit could see the cost of welfare claims rise by an extra €90 million next year, according to Government estimates.
Records released to The Irish Timesunder the Freedom of Information Act show that Department of Finance officials first sought information about the payment of the childcare supplement on December 29th last year.
The department received detailed information relating to the eligibility of children of EU migrant workers to the payment from the Department of Social and Family Affairs a week later on January 6th of this year.
There is now a backlog of some 15,000 claims for child benefit on behalf of non-resident children. A total of 80 per cent are from Polish nationals.
Under a 30-year-old EU law, employees from any member state can claim a "family benefit" in the country they are working in on behalf of their non-resident children.
The number of applications for the payments has increased from 30 per week last year to an average of 300 per week, following publicity earlier this year.
Some Government sources say the large number of EU immigrants here means that plans for a special "second-tier" child benefit - aimed at some of the poorest children in the State - have been shelved.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan has been planning to introduce such a payment for some time. However, it is understood it will not be contained in tomorrow's Budget.
Sources close to the Minister say the delay is not related to concerns over such a payment being made available to children of EU migrants.
Instead, plans for such a payment are under discussion by the State think tank, the National Economic and Social Council. The organisation was asked to draw up plans well over a year ago, but it has yet to issue a final report.
The Budget is expected to increase the amount spent on the Family Income Supplement, a payment for low income families, by €25 million, from its current level of some €72 million.
The back to school allowances is also expected to increase by around €30 or €40 per applicant.Child benefit is expected rise by a modest €7 or €8.
Meanwhile, officials say the requirement to confirm applicants' details with authorities in their country of origin is delaying the processing of childcare payment applications.
They say it can take five months to get replies from Polish authorities.
The delays mean any extra cost in the payment of child benefit abroad will not be felt fully until next year.
