Permanent changes have been announced to Social Protection payments specifically targeting the well-being of children, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has announced.
These include raising the Qualified Child Increase by €4 to €46 per week for under 12s and to €54 per week for over 12s.
The hot school meals programme will be expanded to a further 900 primary schools in April 2024.
Parents' benefit will be extended to nine weeks from August 2024 and the Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €10.
The Child Benefit payment will be extended to 18-year-olds in full time education, and the income threshold on the Working Family Payment will increase by €54 per week.
Christmas bonus confirmed
The minister also confirmed that the Christmas Bonus will be paid in early December, and to support those in receipt of a weekly social welfare payment, a once-off double week 'Cost of Living Support' payment will be made to all qualifying Social Protection recipients.
This will be paid in January and will include pensioners, carers, people on disability payments and jobseekers.
Meanwhile, to support those most in need, Mr Donohoe said a special, once-off payment of €400 will be made before Christmas to those who receive the Carer's Support Grant, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Domiciliary Care Allowance.
A double payment of Child Benefit, worth €140 for each child, will be made to all qualifying households before Christmas and a double payment of the Foster Care allowance will also be made this year.
A €400 lump sum payment will be given to recipients of the Working Family Payment later this year and for for the first time, Budget 2024 will provide a lump sum payment to each child in receipt of the Qualified Child Increase.
NCS to see further 25% reduction in childcare costs
A further €338m will be allocated to the core spending of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Minister Donohoe said the National Childcare Scheme will see a further 25% reduction in childcare costs.
"This is further evidence of this Government's commitment to making childcare affordable and will be implemented from September 2024," he said.
By the end of 2024, the statutory foster care rate will increase by €75 per week for children under 12 and €73 per week for children over 12 bringing it to €400 and €425 per week respectively.
Further supports to that Department will also provide €64m for investment in disability services, which the minister said will deliver more than 90 additional residential places, 1,400 day places for school leavers, increased personal assistance hours, and rate increases for staff providing home supports.
