Huge take-up of new baby grant in Louth as thousands receive state payment

In the first year of the Newborn Baby Grant, 1,560 families in Louth, covering 1,592 children, have received financial support to help with the arrival of a newborn or newly-adopted child, figure from the Department of Social Protection have shown.

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has marked the first anniversary of the Newborn Baby Grant which has already seen the grant paid to approximately 49,000 families in respect of 50,000 newborns and newly-adopted children since its introduction last year.

As part of Budget 2025, the Department of Social Protection introduced a new baby grant of €280, a once-off financial support to families to provide for the material needs of a newborn baby or newly-adopted child.

The Newborn Baby Grant is paid automatically with the first month of Child Benefit payment. Therefore, parents do not need to apply for the grant separately.

In the year since its launch, the Newborn Baby Grant has been paid in respect of 49,841 children at a cost of approximately €14 million.

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Commenting on the anniversary, Minister Calleary said: “In just one year, these grants have reached tens of thousands of parents all over Ireland, helping families mark the arrival of their newest members.

“At a joyful but costly time, these payments are making a real difference by giving parents a little extra support as they welcome their new babies.”