An Irish mother has been given until October to repay the balance of €15,618 in children's allowance payments which she claimed while working for Microsoft in Australia.

Clodagh Logue, 42, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to an offence under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, the Irish Independent reports.

The court heard that Logue "had been working for Microsoft in Ireland but was moved by her employer to its operation in Sydney". During that time, she continued to receive children's allowance payments into her Dublin bank account.

Her solicitor said it was a matter of "out of sight, out of mind", and his client had returned to Ireland just once in the three years.

Logue has already repaid some of the cash, but still owes €8,848. The case was adjourned until October to allow her to repay the balance. The offence carries a maximum fine of €2,500 and/or a six-month sentence, the Irish Independent notes. ®