1,000 Westmeath families benefit from Newborn Baby grant in 2025

Minister Robert Troy has confirmed that 1,047 families in Westmeath benefited from Newborn Baby grants in 2025. As part of Budget 2025, the Dept of Social Protection introduced the grant, a one-off payment to help families meet the material needs of a newborn baby or a newly adopted child.

The grant is paid automatically alongside the first month of Child Benefit, meaning parents do not need to make a separate application.

In its first year, the grant was paid nationally in respect of 49,841 children, at a total cost of approximately €14 million.

Minister Troy said: “It is a priority for Fianna Fáil to support parents through schemes like this so they can spend time with their loved ones and focus on the moments that matter.”

The grant is part of the whole-of-government First 5 strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families – a 10-year plan to help make sure all children have positive early experiences and get a great start in life.

This bonus payment on the birth or adoption of a child aims to assist parents with the costs associated with new family members, by providing an additional financial support. As a result of the measure, in the month after the birth of a child or placement of an adopted child, the qualifying parents will be eligible for: In the case of a single birth, a payment of €420 (the usual Child Benefit payment of €140 plus the new baby grant of €280); In the case of twins, a payment of €980 (the usual Child Benefit payment of €210 per child plus two new baby grants of €280 each); In the case of triplets, a payment of €1,680 (the usual Child Benefit payment of €280 per child plus two three new baby grants of €280 each).