Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
338. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration is being given to introducing a targeted or tiered increase in child benefit for low-income households or families with additional needs, including children with disabilities, in order to address persistent levels of child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31683/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes the commitment to explore a targeted child benefit payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports like the Working Family and Child Support Payments. Officials in my Department are currently advancing this work. It is my intention to publish a consultation paper on this proposal next week.
While a targeted child benefit payment is one approach to reduce child poverty, there are also existing schemes and mechanisms available to my Department to achieve this end. My Department knows, based on ESRI research, that increases in the Child Support Payment and Working Family Payment are effective at tackling child poverty.
These payments provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income, thereby supporting low-income families with children. As part of Budget 2026, the Government introduced the highest single increases to Child Support Payment rates in history, as well as significant increases to thresholds for the Working Family Payment, amongst other measures.
My Department also provides support to families of children with disabilities through the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment. Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. It is not means tested and it is not based on social insurance contributions. As part of Budget 2026, the monthly rate of Domicillary Care Allowance increased by €20 to €380, representing a total increase of €70.50 per month since January 2023.
In addition, the non-means tested Carer's Support Grant is also available to all full-time carers, whether or not they are in receipt of another payment from my department. The Grant is paid in June. As part of Budget 2025, the Grant was increased by €150 bringing this annual payment to €2,000, the highest rate since its introduction.
At a whole of government level, the Government has approved an ambitious child poverty target, with a consistent poverty rate of 3% to be achieved by the end of 2030. This would mean a reduction of 5.5 percentage points from the current child consistent poverty rate of 8.5%.
While of course, no level of child poverty is acceptable, the new Child Poverty Target will guide our cross-government policies and ensure investment is targeted at the children who need it the most, so we can lift as many children as possible out of poverty.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
