The promised double child-benefit payment will be made from today.
638,000 families across the State will receive €280 per child.
The double payment was announced in the Budget in September.
Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys says the increased payment is aimed at helping struggling families deal with the cost of living:
"This is to help with the difficulties that families are facing now in relation to increasing bills and the cost of living. I was particularly keen to do something to help families with children during the budget negotiation because there are hundreds of thousands of families out there who don't necessarily qualify for a welfare payment. Nonetheless, they're feeling the squeeze like anybody else, and this is about supporting them over the winter months with others."
