Taoiseach publishes report on addressing child poverty in Budget 2026

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has today published a new report examining how Budget 2026 addresses child poverty and promotes child well-being.

Prepared by the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach, 'Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2026 to Address Child Poverty and Promote Well-being' is the third cross-government analysis of child poverty spending and the first Budget report of the Government’s term.

The report assesses how Budget 2026 contributes to achieving the Government’s recently published target of reducing consistent child poverty to 3% or less by 2030. It highlights a strategic shift away from temporary cost-of-living payments towards permanent, targeted supports for children and families most at risk.

A central feature of the Budget is a €320 million social welfare package for children. This includes the largest ever increase in the Child Support Payment, higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and the extension of Fuel Allowance to Working Family Payment recipients. These measures are designed to address the growing gap between social welfare incomes and average earnings, which has widened due to rising prices and wages. Since 2020, Child Support Payments have increased by 95% for children aged 12 and over, and by 61% for younger children—well above average wage growth over the same period.

Budget 2026 also provides targeted investment across education, youth and family supports. Key measures include a 30% increase in funding for the Equal Start early years programme, €16.5 million to support the rollout of a new DEIS Strategy and DEIS Plus scheme, a 22% increase in Youth Justice funding, and €3.2 million to expand the national network of Family Resource Centres to 136. Expanded income thresholds under the National Childcare Scheme will further reduce childcare costs for low-income families.

The report also highlights new investment in the children’s services workforce, recognising growing demand and ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention.

Publishing the report, the Taoiseach said the Budget represents a first step in a multi-year programme to significantly reduce child poverty, improve access to services and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

The report, including a child-friendly summary, is available at www.gov.ie/childpoverty.