Hundreds of Cork families to receive Newborn Baby Grant

More than 650 families in Cork are to receive the first payment of the Newborn Baby Grant.

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, announced that grants will be paid out to parents nationwide this week, for all children born on or after December 1, 2024, who qualify for Child Benefit from birth.

The grant, amounting to €280, will be paid to 673 families in Cork, accommodating 684 children across the city and county.

The Newborn Baby Grant is part of the whole-of-Government First 5 strategy, aimed at improving the lives of babies, young children and their families.

Financial support

This bonus payment on the birth of a child aims to assist parents with the costs associated with new babies, by providing an additional financial support to families to ensure adequate resources and that the material needs of a newborn are met.

“I am delighted that this week will see the rolling out of the first of the Newborn Baby Grants that were announced as part of Budget 2025,” Mr Calleary said.

“These payments will help parents by putting extra money in their pockets at a joyful but costly time for families.”

From next month, eligible parents will receive the grant in addition to the first month’s Child Benefit payment, which stands at the standard rate of €140 per month.

In a full year, it is expected that Newborn Baby Grants will be paid in respect of 54,000 children nationwide, at a cost of €15m.

More than 4,400 families across the country, including those in Cork, will receive the first payments of the grant, accommodating a total of 4,522 children.

Parents of new babies do not need to apply for the grant as it will be automatically paid to families of newborns born on or after the cut-off date.

For more information, visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-social-protection.