Targeted measures against child poverty in next Budget, Taoiseach Micheál Martin tells Dáil
Micheál Martin was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who raised the continuing increase in the cost of living.
The Taoiseach accepted there had been high inflation since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but "the Government had not, at that stage, yet brought in free school meals for all primary schools or free school books at the second level."
He said cost of living packages in recent Budgets had a significant impact on many families, and were "making a real difference to children of poverty,"
The Taoiseach said: "We have to do more. We've had a series of cost-of-living packages, but we need better than cost-of-living packages on an annual basis.
"I think unlike any other Government in Europe, we've been in a position to bring in those kind of packages.
"But we need sustained, targeted child poverty initiatives -- which I'm working on with the Child Poverty Unit in my Department, to prepare for the forthcoming Budget."
His comments once more indicate that there will be no general cost-of-living package of the type that previously included electricity bill credits, in Budget 2026.
Nor are there any indications of any increases to universal measures, such as Child Benefit. Instead the Taoiseach has placed an emphasis on "targeted" measures to help families with children at risk of poverty.
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