David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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390. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the baby bundle initiative; the number of sets of new parents that benefitted from the initiative; the number of applicants; the total cost of the scheme; and if his Department has plans to expand the scheme. [38738/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department launched the Little Baby Bundle pilot in February 2023.

The Little Baby Bundle is designed to be a gift from the State for new parents, welcoming a new arrival to their family. The gift is an acknowledgement by the State of this very significant and special moment for parents. It includes key items to support parents after the birth of their baby, to support parent-infant bonding, and to promote parent and infant health and wellbeing.

Through that pilot 500 bundles were provided for participating parents. 350 bundles were available for women receiving prenatal care at our pilot site at the Rotunda Hospital Dublin, and 150 for University Hospital Waterford.

Signups were on a first-come, first-serve basis in order to capture a representative sample of the parents attending the two pilot sites.

In total, 480 women signed up, 8 of whom were having twins making a total of 488 babies due to be born. 330 out of 350 women from the Rotunda Hospital Dublin and 150 out of 150 women from University Hospital Waterford signed up. The take-up rate for this pilot scheme was 96%.

The cost of the delivery of the scheme was €200,000. An independent research evaluation cost €87,000. The last bundle was delivered in September 2023. Leftover bundles from the pilot were donated to domestic violence services.

Decisions on a national rollout will be taken in the context of future Budgets.