Written answers
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Rates
Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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527. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to increase child benefit, even in a targeted way for those on lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14122/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Child Benefit is a monthly payment to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 19th birthday where they are in full-time education or have a disability. It is paid in respect of almost 1.3 million children. Expenditure on the scheme is estimated at over €2.2 billion in 2025.
It is important to note that, in addition to Child Benefit, families on low incomes may be able to avail of other social welfare payments:
- the Child Support Payment with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
- the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Addressing child poverty is a key priority for the Government. That is why the Programme for Government 2025, “Securing Ireland’s Future” includes a range of measures to support children and their families. One such commitment is to “explore a targeted Child Benefit Payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports to reduce Child Poverty such as the Working Family Payment and Child Support Payment.” My Department will progress this work to meet this commitment.
Recent new supports for children with families include the extension of Child Benefit to 18 year-olds in full time education or who have a disability.
In addition, a Newborn Baby Grant of €280 is now available in respect of babies born on or after 1 December 2024. It provides 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, alongside the first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140, in respect of some 54,000 children, at a cost of approximately €15 million.
Any further changes could only be considered in a Budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the position.
Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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528. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any plans to increase maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14123/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on Maternity Leave and who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
Maternity rate has been increased in all four previous budgets, bringing Maternity benefit from €245 in 2021 to €289 in 2025, an increase of €54 in four years. Budget 2025 provided a €15 per week increase from 1 January 2025.
The estimated cost of Maternity Benefit for 2025 is €295.294 million.
Changes to payment rates of Maternity Benefit could only be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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