Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)

Child poverty in Ireland is reaching crisis levels. The Children's Rights Alliance annual report revealed a staggering rise in the number of children living in consistent poverty. We must ensure families have the financial support they need to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

I very much welcome the Taoiseach's comments yesterday in which he stated that nothing is off the table when it comes to social welfare payments for reducing child poverty. Last week, the Taoiseach would have seen the ESRI reported that introducing a means test second-tier child benefit payment of €285 per month could lift 55,000 children out of poverty.

Can the Taoiseach confirm the Government will seriously consider implementing this targeted second-tier benefit to support Ireland's most vulnerable children and families? To alleviate concerns and provide certainty to parents, can the Taoiseach also confirm there will be no reductions to existing child benefit payments in budget 2026?

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