Annual Budget

Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2026 to Address Child Poverty and Promote Well-being is the third cross-government report outlining new and increased spending on child poverty in the annual Budget – and the first Budget of this Government’s term.

The measures announced in Budget 2026 represent the first year of a multi-year programme to meet the recently published child poverty target, which aims to have 3% or less of children in consistent poverty by the end of 2030.

These measures include an increase in targeted and focused investment to support the children and families who need support the most. They encompass a package of more than €320 million in income supports for children living in families at risk of poverty, including the largest ever increase in the Child Support Payment.

Other new allocations in Budget 2026 to address child poverty include a focus on supportive services, including Equal Start, funding for a new DEIS Strategy and the new DEIS Plus scheme, and an increase in the number of Family Resource Centres.

Given the growing demand for many children’s services, and challenges with training, recruitment and retention, this year the report also highlights new and additional spending on the children’s services workforce.

This report, Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2025 to Address Child Poverty and Promote Well-being, describes the main new measures in Budget 2025 that aim to reduce child poverty and promote well-being, reflecting the Government’s ambition that all children can realise their full potential.

It also outlines six principles which can be taken into account when making decisions on how to address child poverty in budgetary spending.

In advance of Budget 2025, the Programme Office engaged with all government departments, and after the Budget requested that they report on how their Budget allocations will help to address child poverty.

The work on the Budget was also informed by engagement with the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office Youth Advisory Group, which is made up of a group of young people from across Ireland.

This report, Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2024 to Reduce Child Poverty and Promote Well-being,describes the enhanced steps that the Government is taking to support children to realise their potential and escape inter-generational cycles of poverty.

While the most substantial investment that Government makes in addressing child poverty is through the existing programmes and expenditures, this report provides a whole-of-government overview of new and additional spending in Budget 2024, reflecting the prioritisation of this critical issue.

In developing their Budget plans, every government minister considered their contribution to ending child poverty and promoting child well-being. This report outlines relevant actions and measures identified by twelve Government Departments. Departments will continue to embed this focus as they develop more detailed spending and work planning in the coming months.