(1) The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following Part for Part 4A (inserted by section 28 of the Act of 2006):

"Part 4A - Early Childcare Supplement

223A. Entitlement to early childcare supplement.

Subject to this Part, a person who is a qualified person for the purposes of Part 4 shall, so long as he or she remains so qualified, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas a monthly payment (in this Act referred to as 'early childcare supplement') in accordance with section 223B in respect of each qualified child (within the meaning of section 219) until such time as the qualified child attains the age of 5 years and 6 months.

223B. Amount of early childcare supplement.

(1) Subject to this Act, the maximum amount of early childcare supplement payable under section 223A in respect of each qualified child shall not exceed €1,104 in any year, payable in equal monthly instalments of €92.

(2) Early childcare supplement shall be payable in respect of the month following the month of the birth of the child and shall continue to be payable up to and including the month in which the child attains the age of 5 years and 6 months.

(3) Early childcare supplement shall be paid monthly in arrears and the final payment shall be in respect of the month in which the child attains the age of 5 years and 6 months.