Government to introduce second tier of child benefit in upcoming budget, says Taoiseach

Micheál Martin confirmed plans for a second-tier child benefit while ruling out once-off supports, saying measures must target poverty risk

Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The Government will introduce a second tier of child benefit in the upcoming budget, the Taoiseach has confirmed.

Micheál Martin said the plan is currently being developed, adding that he met social protection minister Dara Calleary on Wednesday night to discuss how it might work.

“We will do something on that, or equivalent to that [second tier of child benefit]," Mr Martin said.

“There are complexities in terms of getting such a system up in place, so we don’t want anybody to lose out.”

Mr Martin said further work was required on the proposal, noting that a new system would need to be created to oversee the second-tier payment.

“To all intents and purposes, that’s the kind of direction we want to go down,” the Taoiseach added.

The Taoiseach was also questioned on why Jobseeker’s Allowance has not been increased in line with other social welfare payments, which Fine Gael has championed in recent years.

Responding, Mr Martin described it as a “fluid situation.”

“It’s not the same people seeking Jobseekers Allowance every year, people become unemployed, then they get work again,” Mr Martin said.

“In that period when they’re unemployed and on the Jobseekers Allowance, they are at risk of poverty more than others. That was the clear message given to me yesterday by experienced people in the Social Protection field and people in my own social poverty unit.” 

Mr Martin said there was “work to be done” between public expenditure minister Jack Chambers and other ministers on specific budget measures.

“The whole purpose here, if there’s a young person unemployed, with children in their family and so on and like that, we’ve got to be very careful that anything we do doesn’t exacerbate their risk of poverty,” Mr Martin said.

He added that the Government would look to “target resources” in the budget through “a variety of payments” to individuals and families struggling with the rising cost of food.

However, Mr Martin ruled out further one-off payments, saying any new measures must go through existing social welfare structures.