Westmeath payouts under newborn baby grant

A total of 648 families in Westmeath received grants of €280 under a new scheme to assist parents of newborn babies.

The number of families who have benefited from the grant since it was introduced was raised in the Dáil last week.

Under the scheme, 648 families in Westmeath received payment in respect of 662 babies. Nationally there were a total of 32,367 ‘customers’ for the payment in respect of 32,906 babies. Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Dara Calleary, said that Child Benefit becomes payable in respect of newborn babies in the month after their birth, subject to the qualifying conditions.

“As part of Budget 2025, a new-born baby grant of €280 was introduced,” Minister Calleary said. “This is paid to families of babies born, or children with a date of placement, on or after December 1, 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140.”

Dublin tops the table with the families of 9,096 babies receiving the payment, Kildare ranks high with 1,861. Meath rank high with 1,466, while Longford has just 306, and Cavan had 532 babies registered for the payment. Leitrim has the lowest number on 203.

Sligo-Leitrim FF TD, Frank Feighan, asked if the scheme would be reviewed, and the minister stated: “I have no current plans to review this grant as it was introduced less than 12 months ago.”