Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of introducing a permanent double child benefit payment each August. [43787/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated cost of a Double Child Benefit payment for 2024 is €185.7 million. This estimate would change on a yearly basis due to updates of recipient numbers.

This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of introducing a €1,000 child benefit lump sum payment in respect of all newborn babies, based on the average level of new births over the past five years. [43788/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted, as part of Budget 2025, to have introduced a new baby grant of €280. This new payment will assist parents with the costs associated with new babies. It will provide additional financial support to a family to ensure adequate resources and that the material needs of a newborn are met. It is estimated that in 2025, the grant will be paid in respect of some 54,000 children, at a cost of approximately €15 million.

In order to issue this new payment some changes to my Department’s systems are required. As a result, the first new baby payment will issue in the new year in respect of those babies born in December.

Child Benefit has been awarded in respect of over 270,000 newborn babies over the last 5 years, an average of 54,000 per annum. Based on this average, the cost of introducing a €1,000 Child Benefit lump sum payment in respect of all newborn babies would be in excess of €54 million per annum.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.