Minister Calleary launches Public Consultation on Potential New Working Age and Targeted Child Payments

• Public consultation to get views on potential new targeted child payment and new working age payment
• Proposals represent a potential major reform of Ireland’s Welfare System for low-income families with children and those seeking employment or in low-income employment

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has today launched a discussion document and consultation process on a potential new targeted child payment, as well as a potential new working age payment in Ireland.

This consultation is in keeping with Programme for Government commitments.

The proposed new payments aim to reduce child poverty through establishing a standalone weekly payment for low-income families with children, and to remove ‘cliff-edges’ in payments which discourage people from taking up additional work.

The draft proposals for the introduction of the two proposed payments are contained in a ‘Discussion Document’ published today by Minister Calleary.

The proposals in the Discussion Document are ideas as to how any new payments could be implemented, and aim to gather views from the public.

No decisions have yet been made as to what changes, if any, will be made to the social welfare system. Ultimately, informed by this consultation the Government may decide to:

• Keep things as they are,
• Keep the existing system, but change some of the rules of the existing payments, or
• Introduce a more fundamental reform based on discussions and feedback

Speaking today, Minister Calleary said:

“Our existing social welfare system has been consistently one of the most effective in the EU at reducing poverty, so it is important we examine all options when considering any changes. To this end, this discussion paper sets out our current system; provides some arguments both for and against making changes; and suggests ideas designed to generate discussion around such changes.”

“I am keen to hear the views of stakeholders on this discussion document, but I am also open to other ideas about how the system might be improved to address child poverty and support low-income households.”

Today’s publication of the Discussion Document sets out the broad parameters of one potential approach for a new targeted child payment and a new working age payment.

The final designs of both potential new payments will be considered following the consultation process. The existing Child Benefit payment will remain unchanged and will not be impacted by the introduction of any potential new payments.

Submissions are invited from all interested stakeholders, including workers, jobseekers, employers, and representative organisations, particularly those advocating for the rights of children and families, and should be forwarded by email to: WACPConsultation@welfare.ie by 5pm on 12 June 2026.

The discussion document on a targeted child payment and a working age payment can be accessed at Public Consultation on Potential New Working Age and Targeted Child Payments

It is not a final design, and its purpose is to frame a constructive discussion and seek feedback through a national public consultation process with stakeholders. The design of any proposal that may be brought to Government may differ significantly from that set out in the consultation discussion paper.

The discussion document invites stakeholders to provide feedback on two high-level proposed models for the payments.

The discussion document outlines a design for a targeted child payment which would:

• Be available to families on low income
• The families would not be required to be in receipt of another social welfare payment to be eligible to apply
• The amount that people would receive would depend on their household income and their number of children
• Ìt is proposed that under any potential targeted Child Payment, a set amount would be paid for each child in a family and the amount paid would be higher for children aged 12 and over
• Families with incomes below a certain level would receive the maximum rate, and the rate would gradually reduce as the household income increases

The targeted payment would not affect the existing Child Benefit payment, which is to be retained as is.

The discussion document also sets out a possible approach to a working age payment, which would:

• Be available to those aged between 18 and 66 who are either fully unemployed or on low income, irrespective of the days or hours worked
• Be available to single people, couples, and families with children.