Nearly 700,000 families will receive a double payment of child benefit today.

The measure was announced as part of Budget 2025 in order to help families manage the lingering impact of the cost of living crisis. 

Instead of a payment of €140 per child, families will find the Department of Social Welfare has transferred them €280. 

The double payment does not have to be applied for and is given automatically to all recipients. 

A double payment was also given to parents on November 5th. 

Euro banknotes. Picture by: Alamy.com

At the time of the budget, Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly told Newstalk that the charity was “really pleased” with the Government’s efforts to tackle child poverty. 

“The Taoiseach talked about really wanting to address the issue of child poverty and we think he really has through this budget made a really strong step in that direction,” she said. 

“Both in terms of once off payments and also in terms of what they’re doing in the extension of now free school books across secondary level. 

“The introduction of the hot school meal programme for primary schools by next year, the piloting of some out of school hunger initiatives during the summer months and the free transport.”

Some 1.3 million social welfare recipients will also receive their Christmas bonus payment this month.

Main image: Parents walk their children to school. Picture by: Nick Ansell/PA Wire