Laois families to receive Newborn Baby grant this week as new initiative officially launches

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, announced on Tuesday that the first payments of the Newborn Baby grants will be made to families this week. 

Over 4,400 families will receive the grant for 4,522 children across the country. In Laois, 88 families are currently eligible for the new payment scheme which was announced in the Budget. 

It is expected that within the year the new grants will be paid to parents for 54,000 children at a cost of €15 million. 

All of the eligible parents have been advised of the payment of the new grant.

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From March, parents will receive the Newborn Baby grant in addition to the first month’s Child Benefit payment.

The grant will be automatically paid with the first month of Child Benefit payment, meaning parents of new babies do not need to apply for the grant.

The grant of €280 will be paid in addition to the regular €140 Child Benefit payment in the first month. 

With this new measure, in the month after the birth of their child, qualifying parents will be eligible to receive €420 in the case of a single birth, €980 for twins, and €1,680 for triplets. 

Already, parents of twins are paid at one and a half times the standard monthly rate for each child which is €210 per twin. All other multiple births are then paid at double the standard for each child, amounting to €280 per child. 

Commenting on the launch of the grant on Tuesday, Minister Calleary said: "These payments will help parents by putting extra money in their pockets at a joyful but costly time for families."