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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major €506 Child Benefit & €25 welfare hike alert for Budget 2026 amid ‘important most vulnerable not forgotten' warning
THE countdown to the Budget has started — but hanging over the negotiations is the US President's potential trade war with Europe. Finance Minister 2 Micheal Martin has ruled out a repeat of 2025's €2.6 billion cost-of-living boon Credit: 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 2 Susanne Rogers believes social welfare rates should increase to prevent vulnerable people being left behind While Taoiseach It is understood Government leaders have agreed to eliminate one-off payments such as energy credits and But where does that leave those hardest hit by the Here, Susanne Rogers, of Social Justice Ireland, says READ MORE ON BUDGET 2026 AS talk of A policy of one-off cost-of-living measures in recent budgets may have provided temporary relief to low-income households, but even with those measures, almost 12 per cent of the population (630,000 people) are living below the Without those one-off measures, more than 758,600 people would be living in poverty. Most read in The Irish Sun Government must use SOCIAL WELFARE : Government made many promises in the Programme for Government. Give me a break' - Watch shock moment Simon Harris & Pearse Doherty clash in fiery spat over cost-of-living crisis Key among them is the commitment to deliver progressive budgets, meaning that those on the lowest incomes are protected. The Minister for Social Protection must benchmark social welfare rates to 27.5 per cent of average weekly earnings. This requires a €25 increase in weekly This is even more critical in light of the increases to essentials such as rent, energy costs and food prices. ELDERLY STRUGGLING OLDER PEOPLE : More than 106,000 older people struggled to make ends meet in 2024, an increase of 64 per cent in a year. Without the temporary measures, one in five older people would have been living below the poverty line. This highlights how vulnerable older people are, due to their reliance on a fixed Contributory and Non-Contributory Pensions by €25 per week and universalise the payment, while increasing the living alone allowance by €10 per week. HIGH RISK OF POVERTY FUEL ALLOWANCE : Increase this by €10 per month and extend the payment to those receiving the Working Family Payment. This also unlocks secondary benefits such as access to retro-fitting grants. DISABILITY : The Programme for Government makes welcome commitments on a cost of The group with the highest risk of poverty and some of the highest rates of deprivation are those unable to work due to long-term illness or disability. To deliver on its promise, Budget 2026 should introduce a cost of disability allowance at €20 a week. BOOST FOR CARERS AND CHILDREN CARERS : Carers provide a huge service to the State. There are over 299,000 people in Ireland providing unpaid care each week, an increase of 53 per cent in six years. To acknowledge and support them, at the very minimum, Government must expand the Free It must increase the annual Carer's Support Grant to €2,150, implement an independent review of Carer's Allowance, increase Domiciliary Care Allowance to €385 per month, and pilot a Universal Basic Services and a Universal Basic Income Scheme for Carers at a cost of €10million, in line with the Programme for Government Commitment to a Carers Guarantee. KEY ROUTE CHILDREN : Child benefit remains a key route to tackling child poverty. In 2024, more than 190,000 children in Ireland were living in poverty, a statistic that should shock us all. Government should increase Child Benefit by €506, increase the Child Support Payment for under-12s by €6 and for those aged 12 and over by €15. It should also introduce an additional two weeks' paternity and Life on a low income is the norm for a large number of people in Ireland. But it shouldn't be. Government must use Budget 2026 to change this trend and improve the standard of living for vulnerable households. The first step is setting adequate social welfare rates.
Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
NWC calls for funding for early childhood education and mother and baby unit in pre-budget proposal
The National Women's Council (NWC) has called on the Government to invest an additional €300m into early childhood education and care in Budget 2025. In its pre-budget submission the NWC called on the Government to seize the opportunity to deliver universal, inclusive public services that support women "as part of a new feminist economic model that prioritises care for people and planet and creates an Ireland for all." Other proposals by the NWC include the establishment of Ireland's first mother and baby unit ; the extension of the fuel allowance to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment and to implement minimum BER for rented properties; tackling violence against women, and the provision of 250 more refuge units, especially in counties with no available refuges, and supports for long-term. 'At a time when unprecedented economic resources are available to Government, now is the time to invest in a way that betters the lives of women in Ireland. Budget 2026 must clearly do that by investing in public services," said NWC director Orla O'Connor. 'Despite repeated commitments by Government, Ireland still lacks a dedicated mother and baby unit for women needing inpatient mental health care after childbirth. Budget 2026 must deliver on the capital funding necessary to establish this essential service. 'Violence against women continues to be at epidemic levels, and access to refuges and long-term accommodation is a significant barrier for many victim-survivors. Budget 2026 must have strong budgetary commitments to provide more refuge units – particularly in counties that currently have no available refuges – and provide supports for long term housing for victim-survivors.'
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Latest DOUBLE €280 Child Benefit update for 171k kids with ‘targeted' top-up focus & ‘complex' alert on 2 key payments
MINISTER Dara Calleary has confirmed a double €280 Child Benefit payment for thousands will cost the State around €288million per year. The Minister for Social Protection established the figure after he said his Department is "working on" a Advertisement 2 Child Benefit has increased by less than €10 in two decades Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary Credit: © 2025 MAXWELL'S - NO REPRO FEE The Department of Social Protection is currently exploring the interaction a Calleary explained: "Existing supports include the and the And when asked by Child Benefit is a , meaning Irish parents can receive the €140 monthly cash regardless of their income and PRSI record up until a child is 16. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY Currently, the payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their nineteenth birthday where they are in full-time education or have a disability. A Calleary explained: "My department currently has 83,241 children benefiting from One Parent Family Payment and 100,117 children benefiting from Working Family Parent. "However, there are an estimated 11,500 children where the claimant is in receipt of both One Parent Family Payment and Working Family Payment. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Exclusive "Consequently, the number of individual children supported by One Parent Family Payment or Working Family Payment is calculated at 171,858. Martin vows to do 'everything we can' to reduce pressure on families ahead of Budget 2026 "Doubling the monthly Child Benefit payment for a year for each of these children would increase the overall expenditure on Child Benefit by approximately €288million per year." Calleary warned that these figures are subject to change, with the estimates based on figures from May 2025. Child Benefit is currently paid at a rate of €140 per child monthly to over 650,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children - but it has risen by less than €10 in the last 20 years. Advertisement The monthly payment for a first child was €131.60 in 2004 and stands at €140 now, just six per cent higher. But Taoiseach €285 MONTHLY CASH The "second-tier" allowance worth an average of €285 per month would allow lower-income families to top up the existing €140-a-month benefit. And those who don't qualify for the extra cash will still receive the basic €140 payment. Advertisement Martin said: "I have a unit within the Department that is focusing on this issue and I've already spoken to Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary on this. "Nothing is off the table. There is a wide menu of options to choose from to target resources to meaningfully impact on the child poverty situation." The would lift some 55,000 children out of income poverty and 25,000 from consistent poverty, according to a recent report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. It estimates that spending just under €800m a year on the scheme could halve the number of children experiencing consistent poverty. Advertisement But Calleary said it is a "complex issue" and an "unintended consequence" of a of child income supports could result in a PAYMENT 'COULD BE SUSPENDED' ALERT SOME 650,000 Irish parents have been warned that their monthly €140 Child Benefit "payment will be suspended The form is part of on-going control measures carried out periodically to confirm that qualifying conditions continue to be fulfilled by those receiving the social welfare payment. The form, which is sent out via post, must be completed and returned within 28 days of being received. And the Department of Social Protection has warned that the cash "will be suspended if the form is not returned within 28 days". The form requires parents or guardians receiving the universal Claimants are also required to confirm that both they and the child they are claiming for are resident in the State and detail any change in circumstances that could affect their Child Benefit claim. He explained: "The work of the Department is to help those who are struggling. "One of the considerations in the ESRI proposal was to amalgamate the working family payment with the child support payment but that would result in people losing out on what they are getting at the moment. "If we are to do this, people cannot lose out. We have to look at expanding the working family payment and the child support payment as part of targeted measures. Advertisement "Anything we do in this space needs to be targeted and focused on those on low incomes, particularly workers. "We have to ensure that people do not get a lower payment under a new system than they are currently getting. "That could be an unintended consequence of some of the work we have seen today." A policy paper is currently being worked on to set out the options ahead of the budget. Advertisement Other areas being examined to reduce child poverty levels are payments for children of primary-school age, lone parents, working families on low incomes and children with disabilities. Calleary vowed that any changes made to the social welfare system will be targeted and "focused on those most at risk" of poverty and those in consistent poverty.
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Pension hikes of €12 still a ‘target' even as ministers walk back tax cut promises
Despite warnings of tighter purse strings and little to no tax cuts, ministers believe a €12 weekly increase in the pension 'has to be a target' and should announced as part of Budget 2026 in October. Government leaders are warning rising tensions in the Middle East and tariff threats from US president Donald Trump will mean a cautious approach is needed in the coming months. But both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised before the election that they would increase the pension to €350 per week over the next five years. That means annual increases of €12 on average. And while ministers appear prepared to backtrack on promised income tax cuts, a boost for pensioners is still very much in play. 'It has to be the target, because it'll be thrown against us if it's not. But at this stage, I doubt we'll be going against that,' one minister said. 'Everything we're being told at this stage is the envelope is going to be much tighter.' A weekly pension hike would spark a debate about what other social welfare payments, such as jobseeker's allowance, would also go up. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is understood to be keen on payments targeting children in poverty and the disabled. While splitting child benefit into two tiers is being considered, it is viewed as a difficult and costly exercise. Targeted payments for less well-off families, such as the Working Family Payment, are viewed by some within the Government as being a more likely system of providing extra cash to families who need it most. Yet a second tier of child benefit would be the 'most effective' way to tackle child poverty, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) will tell the Oireachtas social protection committee today. At a cost of €773m per year to the taxpayer, it would reduce the child at risk of poverty rate by 4.6 percentage points, the child material deprivation rate by 0.7 percentage points and the child consistent poverty rate by 2.1 percentage points. 'Our analysis suggests that any such reform should be designed carefully to avoid income losses for some households,' the ESRI's Karina Doorley will tell TDs and senators. 'The effects of a second tier of child benefit on work incentives should also be investigated to ensure they do not overly discourage employment.' Ministers do not expect any once-off cost-of-living payments under Budget 2026 but it is almost certain to include a 9pc Vat rate for hospitality. 'This will see people buying the second coffee, eating out and spending more and keeping jobs,' one minister said. 'The Budget will recognise there is no longer a cost-of-living crisis. The €12 weekly increase to pensions and other welfare rates is in line with inflation.'
Irish Independent
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Around 2,300 foster children expected to benefit from Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary is expected to bring a memo to the Government tomorrow to extend the initiative to include foster families. It is estimated around 2,300 children in foster care will now qualify for the BSCFA. The once-off payment offers help to families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear. It is deemed particularly vital during a time of inflation. The payment for 2025 is €160 for a child who is aged from four to 11, and €285 for those aged from 12 to 22. To qualify children and young adults must be between these ages on or before September 30, 2025. Students aged between 18 and 22 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in autumn 2025. Last September, the issue was raised by Independent TD Michael Lowry, who asked the then children's minister Roderic O'Gorman if he would ensure foster families were paid the benefit. Mr O'Gorman said at that time Heather Humphreys, whose brief was social protection, had 'informed' him that: 'The BSCFA is not payable in respect of foster children, as the financial support provided to foster parents by Tusla, the Foster Care Allowance, includes provision for the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child.' Mr O'Gorman had at that point said that the rates for the Foster Care Allowance were to rise to €400 a week for a child under 12 and to €425 for those over 12. Families are being reminded the application window to apply for the benefit is now open until September 30. The social welfare payment is a once-off annual means-tested payment. ADVERTISEMENT Applications can be filled out online at My Welfare or families can request a form is sent to them in the post. Those who qualify for the scheme must be receiving a social welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection already, such as carer's allowance or benefit; Supplementary Welfare Allowance, disability allowance; One Parent Family Allowance; Working Family Payment; or jobseeker's allowance or benefit. Others can also qualify, if their household is within the BSCFA income limits, or if they are in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. The weekly income limits to qualify for the scheme for one child are €694. For two children, the income limit is €756. The limit is €818 for three children and €880 for four children.
