Boost for families as child benefit extension announced

Cabinet has approved a new measure to pay child benefit to families for teenagers up until their 19th birthday.

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. The local minister says she is delighted to be a position to bring this payment earlier than previously thought adding that lots of families will benefit in the region from this announcement.