Parents could be in line for some extra monies.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is due to bring a suite of proposals to Cabinet this morning, including pushing out Child Benefit to include 18-year-olds who are still in full time education or who have a disability.
Approx 60,000 families would benefit from such a move from 1st May this year.
The measure was mooted for a September introduction.
Meanwhile, a new plan to improve childcare services could save parents €4,500 a year.
The Chartered Accountants Ireland’s (CAI) proposal includes ‘concrete steps’ to make childcare work better for service providers and parents.
The organisation estimates a mother-of-two on an average annual wage of €45,000 is paying €24,000 each year on childcare, and is left with just €235 per week after paying taxes and fees.
President of Chartered Accountants Ireland Sinead Donovan say everyone is losing out with the way things are now:
