Budget 2025: Government agrees treble payment 'Baby Boost' for parents of newborns
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman had suggested that parents should receive a quadruple Child Benefit as part of the first Child Benefit payment they receive. This would amount to €560
Parents of newborn babies will receive a treble payment Child Benefit "baby boost" under plans signed off by the Government as part of Budget 2025.
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman had suggested that parents should receive a quadruple Child Benefit as part of the first Child Benefit payment they receive. This would amount to €560.
On Sunday night, there was a suggestion that the baby boost idea might be off the table following news that the Government was examining paying two double Child Benefit payments in November and December.
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However, the prospect of a double Child Benefit payment for newborns started to be considered on Monday as budget talks entered their final stretch on Monday afternoon.
The Green Party secured a trebling of child benefit payment for parents following the birth of a child as part of the Budget negotiations.
The proposed "baby boost" payment will mean a special one-off payment of €420 paid out following the birth of a newborn (existing €140 + additional €280).
The new payment will kick in from January 1 on a permanent basis. When combined with other Budget measures including a €15 per week increase in maternity and paternity benefit, as well as an increase in father’s parent’s benefit, parents of new-born children will benefit from up to €835 in the first six months of the baby’s life.
"The Green Party has always said that parents should be able to focus on welcoming their newborns into the world without having to worry about the costs of having a child, such as a new buggy, cot, car seat, clothes, mattresses, sterilisers, nappies and much, much more," a Green Party source said.
"No-one should have to go into debt when having a baby so this increased child benefit payment will be a significant help to people."
It is understood that all three options that were put forward for Child Benefit, including a rate increase, a quadruple payment "baby boost" and double payments, could not all be implemented.
However, the Green Party was understood to be "pushing hard" for the baby boost proposal
Speaking in early September, Mr O’Gorman stated that the birth of a child can be an expensive time for parents.
"We're very aware of the extra financial pressures that all new parents face on the arrival of a newborn – New cot, new baby seat, new steriliser, all those really basic but quite expensive pieces of equipment," he said.
"The idea is that alongside the initial child benefit payment of €140, there'd be a boost for that first payment.
"We're talking about quadrupling it, bringing it up to €560 for that first payment, just to give a very clear indication to parents that we're supporting them and their newborn in those first weeks in a very tangible way, providing some more money so they can meet those extra costs.
"It is targeted at a time when we know every family needs that little bit of extra support. It's a once-off payment when the first child benefit payment comes in, knowing that all those extra costs are building up."
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys previously said she was supportive of the proposals.
Speaking in Dublin on Monday morning, the Tánaiste said that he wanted there to be a Child Benefit element in the cost-of-living package.
"I’ve always been very clear that in the context of the cost-of-living package, we would be doing something significant on Child Benefit. But discussions are still under way," Micheal Martin said.
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