Almost 48,000 parents and families benefit from Newborn Baby Grant
Almost 48,000 parents and families have benefited from the Newborn Baby Grant since it was first introduced a year ago, writes John Drennan.
The grant is paid to families of newborn babies or babies adopted after December 1, 2024.
The €280-per-child grant – which increases to €560 for the parents of twins – was strongly championed by Tánaiste Simon Harris.
According to figures obtained by John Paul O’Shea TD, chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, the Department of Social Protection has paid the Newborn Baby Grant to parents of 47,633 children to date.
Dublin had the highest number, with 13,127 grants paid up to December 9 this year.
Leitrim had the smallest number, with 292 baby grants paid.
Deputy O’Shea said: “The arrival of a new baby is a joyful time for families but it’s also an expensive time.
“The Newborn Baby Grant was introduced to help families with the costs of a new arrival.’ He also said that ‘looking after a new baby is a busy and stressful time for families”.
Deputy O’Shea continued: “The good news is the Newborn Baby Grant is paid automatically with your first child benefit payment (€140 a child).
“There is no additional application for the grant so new parents don’t have to do anything extra to receive it.”
He also said that it is “fantastic to see that so many families across the country have benefited from the grant in its first year”.
The Cork North-West TD added: “I’m particularly pleased to see 5,352 children in Cork have benefited from the grant so far.
The €280-per-child grant – which increases to €560 for the parents of twins – was strongly championed by Tánaiste Simon Harris. (Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)
“Supports like this alongside the likes of the free GP card for under-eights, free hot school meals and free schoolbooks are all designed to make life a little bit easier for young, working families.”
He also stated: “I want to see key commitments in the Programme for Government such as the introduction of pay-related parents benefit progressed so that we can provide further support to young, working families.”
