First childcare supplement to be paid in August

THE Government has insisted that the first instalment of the new €1,000 childcare supplement will be paid by the end of August.

It emerged yesterday morning that the Department of Social and Family Affairs believed payments could be delayed until December because of the administrative difficulties associated with introducing the supplement. The department has to update its computer systems in order to make the payments.

But yesterday afternoon, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan insisted that the first instalment would be paid before the end of August.