It would apply to children who are still in full-time secondary education, as well as those with disabilities.
The first payments will be made from May 1st, and it's to benefit around 60 thousand families.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says it's going to be introduced four months earlier than planned:
"It's a very popular measure, child benefit is a payment that helps all families, all working families right across the State. And it may be the only payment that some families get in terms of any assistance from the State"
