Child benefit increases outlined in the budget last year come into effect from this week.
Child benefit is being increased by €8.40 a month for the first and second child, and by €7.70 a month for the third and each subsequent child.
Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan said in addition to the child benefit increases more than 350,000 children under six also now qualify for the annual €1,000 early childcare supplement (ECS) announced in the Budget.
More than one million children are in receipt of child benefit at a cost of more than €2 billion to the Exchequer in 2006.
Paul Ginnell, policy worker with European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland, told ireland.com: "Any increases in Child Benefit are extremely important as they go to all children and families including those less well off, although this increase just keeps up with inflation."
However he added that EAPN were concerned that the child dependency allowance has not been increased since it was introduced over ten years ago.
"Child dependency allowance is targeted at low income families with children; with a child poverty rate in Ireland at over 20 per cent we would like to see this benefit being used to reduce this figure."