Sinn Féin warns hard-hit families got 'no relief'

In yesterday's Budget announcement, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said he was introducing "over €320 million in targeted measures to alleviate child poverty".

He went on to say that it included the "largest ever" increase in Child Support Payments, more specifically €8 for children under 12 and €16 for those 12 and over, benefitting around 330,000 children nationwide. The increase will be demanded at €3,016 a year for under-12s and €4,056 for those 12 and over.

However, Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty criticised the government for not increasing the Child Benefit after a two-tier €285 plan was cut and claimed that the decisions made in Budget 2026 would result in poverty-stricken kids.

At present, Child Benefit stands at €140 a month for each child, however, Deputy Doherty said it "was higher in 2008 than it is today". He went on to claim that his party had called for it to be raised by €10, along with a double payment to be made this year, which would have led to families receiving an additional €300 per child if it included the Sinn Féin base rate boost, per The Irish Sun.

Last year, the government issued a double-double Child Benefit boost, including double Child Benefit payments issued in both November and December, however, this initiative did not make it into Budget 2026.

Doherty warned that the lack of this initiative, along with the other measures announced, led to a "decision to continue to leave children in this State in poverty".

He said in the Dáil Éireann: "For too long Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have failed the children right across the State.

"One in five children now live in poverty, that’s your record.

"That is shocking, that you have allowed this to happen.

"It’s a national disgrace, and it didn’t happen by chance. It’s happening because of the Budgets that you have introduced in this house, year after year.

"We called on you to deliver effective measures to tackle child poverty, that means targeted and universal measures."

Doherty continued: "The cost of living crisis has brought so many pressures on so many households – many that never thought they would be in this situation now find themselves in a situation because of your government.

"And again, we see no increase in Child Benefit rates.

"Child Benefit was higher in 2008 than it is today, and talk to any parent, they’ll tell you it is dearer to raise a child today than it was in 2008, but nothing in terms of Child Benefit.

"That means no relief for so many families. We need support for families, and this Budget should have provided it.

"We need to make sure that every child sees an improvement in their situation."

The Budget delivered yesterday (October 7) by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers contains €2.9 billion for the delivery of new-build social homes and the extension of the rent tax credit.

The €320 million-a-year to tackle child poverty mentioned before includes the extension of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance rate of €160 to children aged two and three, who are eligible.

Additionally, there has been a €60 increase in weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment for all family sizes.

It has also been confirmed that families eligible for the Working Family Payment will also qualify for Fuel Allowance under Budget 2026, which will be paid in March 2026 and backdated to January 2026.

Budget 2026 will introduce a €10 increase in most weekly social welfare payments from January 2026, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and people receiving a reduced rate, per The Irish Sun.

€125 million will be allocated to the early years sector, which will bring the total funding to €1.5 billion, according to Minister Chambers.

It is believed that over 285,000 children will benefit from the National Childcare Scheme in 2026, resulting in an increase of 35,000, while the ECCE scheme for early childhood care will benefit 105,000 children.