Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2025
156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of doubling the monthly child benefit payment for a year for all households with medical card holders. [36571/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. Currently, the payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 19th birthday where they are in full-time education or have a disability.
Child Benefit is currently in payment in respect of approximately 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of €2.2 billion for 2025.
Child Benefit is paid at €140 per month, with twins being paid at 150% per child and triplets being paid at 200% per child.
Medical cards come under the remit of the Department of Health and my Department has no access to data on the number of households that currently hold a medical card, therefore we would not be in a position to provide a full year cost of doubling the monthly child benefit payment.
