Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
96. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the qualified child payment only saw an increase of €2 in Budget 2023 and €4 in Budget 2024, despite the ESRI repeatedly pointing out that substantially increasing the payment has the potential to make significant reductions in child poverty. [46361/23]
View answerThe Government is keenly aware of issues in relation to child poverty, and these issues have formed a critical input into the development of the Budget 2024 package which I am very pleased includes a Social Welfare package of almost €2.3 billion, the largest in the history of the State. The measures contained in the Budget are designed to support the most vulnerable in our society with the increased cost of living and there is a particular focus on tackling child poverty.
I provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €4 to €46 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €4 to €54 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. These increases will take effect from January at an estimated cost of €60.9 million in 2024. As a result, these rates will have increased by €10 for under 12s and by €14 for over 12s over the last four Budgets. This is just one of the Budget measures targeted at low income families with children.
I have also provided for a €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child, to be paid in respect of each qualified child, at an estimated cost of €37 million in November 2023.
In addition, Budget 2024 provides for a €54 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January. I have also provided for a €400 lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the payment in November 2023 at an estimated cost of €18.4 million. Recipients of this payment are by definition, low income employees with children.
The double payment of Child Benefit in November will benefit 650,000 recipients in respect of over 1.2 million children at a cost of €178.8 million.
I have also extended Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education from next September. This was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024 and I believe it is a long-term change for the better which will support families across Ireland into the future.
As a result of Budget 2024, families in receipt of payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will also benefit from a double weeks' payment in December as well as a double weeks' payment in January. Families in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a €300 lump sum payment in November.
In addition, the Budget provided for a €12 increase in the weekly personal rate of working age payments bringing the rate to €232 from January.
In addition, I secured funding as part of the Budget to expand the successful Hot School Meals Programme to a further 900 primary schools across the country from April 2024 meaning we are well on course to meeting my ambition of expanding the Hot School Meals Programme to all primary schools well ahead of the 2030 target.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
