Increases in child benefit payments announced in the budget will come into effect from this week.
Some half-a-million famillies will see their child payments increase by €10 a month, while 340,000 children in welfare and low income families will see an average increase of €30 per month.
Under the increases, child benefit rises to €160.00 a month for each of the first two children and €195.00 for the third and subsequent children.
Families with two children will see the benefit increased to €320. Families with four children will see their benefits increased to €710 and to almost €1,500 for a family with eight children.
Families on social welfare who have been receiving since January the single rate weekly Qualified Child Increase (QCI) of €22, the rises in the QCI and Child Benefit combined will mean they are over €30 a month better off.
Minister for Social Affairs, Séamus Brennan T.D also released updated statistics detailing increases in welfare supports, including Child Benefit, Qualified Child Increase, Family Income Supplement and the Back to School Allowance.