Children in direct provision 'excluded' as double child benefit to be paid

Children's Rights Alliance CEO Tanya Ward says children and young people in direct provision 'have watched budget after budget go by without any increases to the income support they receive.'

As more than a million children receive the first of two double child benefit payments, children and young people in direct provision will once again watch from the sidelines, according to children’s right advocates.

There has been “absolutely no progress” made on vital income support for children living in direct provision, despite budget promises, according to the Children’s Rights Alliance. Budget 2025 included €8.4m for an International Protection Child Payment.

This follows a commitment in Budget 2024 which allocated €4.7m to deliver the payment. However, one year on there has been no progress made on delivering the support, according to Children’s Right Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward.

“This day next week, over a million children and young people will receive the first of two double child benefit payments. As we head into difficult winter months, many families will breathe a sigh of relief with this additional support. 

But as this happens, children and young people in direct provision will receive nothing. No double payment or child benefit payment at all. 

For five years, these children have been left behind by this Government, Ms Ward added.

“They have watched budget after budget go by without any increases to the income support they receive.”

“Children and young people in direct provision do not qualify for the double child benefit or the weekly increases and once-off lump sum Child Support Payment targeted at those experiencing poverty. Instead, Government expects these children and young people to survive on just €29.80 a week.”

It was positive to see that the investment for an International Protection Child Payment was maintained in Budget 2025, she added. 

"But it is difficult for us and other children and youth organisations to welcome this as the same promise was made last year and a year on from that, absolutely no progress has been made and there is simply no good reason as to why not." 

"We urge Government to implement this critical income support to ensure that the financial support is brought closer to that of their peers. If one of the most vulnerable groups of children and young people get left behind again, then the commitment to end child poverty will be just as good as the commitment to deliver this support — another empty promise.”

The double child benefit payment

Meanwhile, the double child benefit payment will only provide temporary relief to households in need, according to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP).

In the coming weeks pensioners, carers and people with disabilities will be among 1.4 million people who begin receiving a double payment in their benefits.

According to SVP, in the last four years there has been a cumulative increase of 16.8% in the costs of meeting a minimum essential standard of living, which is the amount needed to make sure people can afford a basic but decent standard of living.

The real value of social welfare payments, the fuel allowance and child benefit have been eroded by the increasing costs of essentials like food, rent and energy, it warned.