Aisling Dempsey
Question:49. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department spent on child-related payments in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14958/26]
View answerThursday, 26 February 2026
Questions (49)
Written answers
My Department's published accounts group expenditure under eight broad categories:
• Administration
• Pensions
• Working age income supports
• Working age employment supports
• Illness Disability and Carers
• Children
• Supplementary Payments Miscellaneous Services and Payments to Agencies
• Auto-Enrolment
The Children category funds targeted-supports to low income families with children, through schemes including Working Family Payment and Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. The universal Child Benefit payment is also funded under this category.
While the accounts for 2025 have not yet been finalised, the provisional expenditure on schemes within the Children category is €2.99 billion.
My Department also provides further assistance to low-income families with children through the Child Support Payment on primary social welfare payments. This expenditure is included within the individual scheme totals in my Department's accounts, and is not reported separately.