Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. I acknowledge him for his work in this area, and also that of my immediate predecessor, Heather Humphreys who was committed to the newborn baby grant of €280, which was announced in budget 2025 and was paid to families of babies born on or after 1 December 2024. Taken together with the normal first month’s child benefit of €140 parents of newborns will receive a total first payment of €420, which is three times the normal payment. The Deputy and his colleagues led strongly on this. I am sure he will agree that it is a welcome initiative that recognises the extra costs incurred by a family, and by parents, at a very happy time.

It is important to note that the newborn baby grant is paid automatically with child benefit payments, so there is no additional requirement for an application process. That payment will be made with the first payment in the month after the child is born. The first payments issued on 11 February to more than 4,400 people in respect of 4,522 children. They included payments for children born on or after 1 December. To date, 6,345 people have been paid the newborn baby grant in respect of 6,448 children. The total number of payments to be made is demand driven and obviously depends on the birth rate. Looking at recent trends, we estimate that in 2025 newborn baby grants will be paid in respect of 54,000 children and that will cost €15 million. I hope that clarifies the matter.

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