Government considering €50 increase in Child Benefit rate

The child benefit payment is set to be increased

The Irish government is reportedly considering increasing the child benefit payment.

According to reports, ministers are already making their pre-budget submissions. Social Justice Ireland has recommended a €50 increase in the child benefit payment.

Social Justice Ireland stated:

"Child benefit remains a key route to tackling child poverty. It is of particular value to those families on the lowest incomes. In 2024, more than 190,000 children in Ireland were living in poverty."

Social Justice Ireland also called for a €25 increase in social welfare payments in Budget 2026.

"The benchmarking of core social welfare rates to average earnings and a €25 increase in core social welfare payments in Budget 2026 is essential to closing this income gap, and to delivering the Programme for Government commitment to progressive budgets.

"This is part of a suite of targeted measures to support households on fixed incomes."

The news comes after Micheál Martin supported the introduction of a two-tier child benefit payment.

He also agrees that more needs to be done to support families in Ireland as the cost of living crisis continues.

Speaking at the National Economic Dialogue on June 16th, Martin said:

“In the Programme for Government, we said that child poverty is not inevitable, and I am determined to turn that commitment into actions that will transform lives.”

“Unfortunately, after years of progress, the most recent figures show an unwelcome increase in persistent child poverty. “We need to make sure that this increase turns out to be a temporary spike, out of line with the overall trend."

"For Budget 2026, I have asked my ministerial colleagues to plan and come forward with measures that will really make a difference to the most vulnerable families and children."

All parents currently receive a monthly payment of €140.