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The amount of money Ireland pays out in child welfare benefits to families in other European countries has been revealed.

According to figures obtained by the Sunday Independent, almost €40 million has been forked out over the past three years.

The payment is made to European Union citizens working here, who have children in their home countries.

In total, 7,938 children currently receive the payments - which have risen from €11.85 million overall in 2014 to €13.27 million last year.

The majority of this money goes to Poland, where the families of over 4,500 kids get €140 per month from the government.

This is significantly more than even the highest rate of child welfare in Poland, which is just €30.

It's a similar story for those in Romania and Latvia. Ireland pays the families of 332 Romanian children and 182 Latvian children the Irish child benefit rate of €140 per month.

In comparison, the local rate in Romania is just €19, while the highest rate in Latvia is €34.14 per month.

A large amount also goes across the pond to the UK, where the families of 1,848 children get the benefits from the Irish government.

Social Welfare Minister Leo Varadkar has said that the benefits system needs to be overhauled.

Speaking at an EU Employment and Social Policy Council meeting in Brussels, Minister Varadkar suggested that child benefits should be brought in line to the rates that are paid in the country where the minor is living.

He said that Ireland wants to support the children of immigrants working here but that the system needs to be changed.

He explained: “Given the considerable differences in the types of family benefits provided, the levels of such benefits and the large variations in the cost of living as between different member states.

“The export of these benefits can, in some cases, lead to overcompensation and compensation below the level of the cost of living in other cases.”

He added: “Ireland considers that too much focus has been given in the proposals to extending the exportability of benefits at the expense of adequately recognising the financial and administrative burdens.”

Last month Mr Varadkar also spoke candidly about his policies and how he feels the State can help benefit hard-working individuals and families here.

He said: “Fine Gael is for the Ireland that gets up early, the taxpayer, citizens who obey the law and are ambitious for themselves, their children and their communities.

“We represent people who don’t expect the government to do everything for them, but who do expect the government to help them or get out of the way.”

