Taoiseach Micheál Martin has published a new report analysing how Budget 2026 addresses child poverty through targeted public spending. Prepared by the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach, the report is the third cross-government assessment of child poverty measures in the annual Budget and the first of the current Government’s term. It examines how new spending aligns with Ireland’s recently announced target to reduce consistent child poverty to 3 percent or less by the end of 2030.
The report outlines a strategic shift in Budget 2026 away from temporary cost-of-living supports towards permanent, targeted measures for families most at risk. Central to this approach is a €320 million social welfare package for children, which includes the largest-ever increase in the Child Support Payment, higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and the extension of the Fuel Allowance to families receiving that payment.
The analysis highlights that rising prices and wages have widened the gap between households reliant on social welfare and average incomes. In response, government investment since 2020 has focused on protecting low-income families with children. Over this period, the Child Support Payment has increased significantly, particularly for older children, outpacing growth in average wages and exceeding increases applied to many other permanent social welfare supports.
Budget 2026 also introduces new and enhanced funding across a range of services aimed at reducing child poverty and improving well-being. These include increased investment in early years education, targeted education supports for disadvantaged schools, youth justice services, Family Resource Centres, and childcare subsidies for lower-income families. The report notes that these measures are designed to improve access to services while addressing growing demand and workforce pressures across children’s services.
The Taoiseach emphasised that the Budget prioritises children and families most in need, with targeted spending across education, early learning and care, health, and housing to help ensure every child has a strong start in life. He described Budget 2026 as the first step in a multi-year programme to significantly reduce child poverty, with long-term social and economic benefits for Ireland.
Ministers responsible for social protection, children, and education highlighted that the cross-government approach focuses on interventions with a proven impact on poverty reduction and life outcomes. Measures such as enhanced income supports, expanded early years programmes, additional Family Resource Centres, and strengthened educational disadvantage schemes are expected to make a tangible difference for children and families across the country.
The report also reflects the broader work of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office, established in 2023 to drive coordinated action on child poverty. It builds on previous Budget analyses and incorporates input from children and young people through a Youth Advisory Group, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to evidence-based and inclusive policymaking in tackling child poverty.
