Child benefit will rise by £8 a month per child for a family's first two children, and by £10 a month for the next two, under increases which take effect this month.
Announcing the increases, which were promised in the Budget, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, said that increases would continue over the period of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
The monthly benefits from this month for children under the age of 16 are: family with one child - £42.50; family with two children - £85; family with three children - £141; family with four children - £197. An extra £56 a month is paid for each additional child.