Budget 2026 

Budget 2026 

Budget 2026 is the first of the new Government. 

So, what does it tell us about their commitments to children? 

We take a look at some of the big-ticket items affecting children and their rights.  

 

• Children in Poverty 

A positive shift to more targeted measures to address child poverty. The significant increases in targeted Child Support Payments, the extension of Fuel Allowance to low income working families, extending the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to two and three year olds, and extra funding for DEIS plus will make a tangible difference for children in poverty. However, we would have liked to have seen more supports for children in one parent families and in households with a disabled family member.  

OCO view: A sustained focus on child poverty over the term of this Government will be needed to make a meaningful difference. A good start but a lot more to do to.  

 

• Children at risk of, and experiencing, Homelessness: 

There are no targeted measures to tackle the growing numbers of children in homelessness in this budget package.  

OCO view: The new housing plan from Government must have specific actions to end child homelessness with adequate resources to match this commitment. Without a new approach, the crisis will only deepen with more children left with the scars of homelessness.  

 

• Children in Care:   

Extra funding to increase the number of alternative care placement with a commitment to move away from expensive and inappropriate Special Emergency Arrangements is welcome. However, we are concerned that this might not be sufficient to meet the scale of the challenge and there is still an over- reliance on the private sector to deliver. While we note the funding to maintain and grow foster care capacity, this has not been matched with adequate financial supports for these families.  Once again Kinship Carers are left out.   

OCO view: There is a crisis in our care system, and we urgently need a strong, fully funded, child rights based alternative strategy to deliver for children.  

 

• Children with Disabilities:  

Investment in Children’s Disability Network Teams and a€20 million investment the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist is positive. The provision for therapist in schools, including mainstream schools is also welcome. However, this is a drop in the ocean given the scale of the challenges and the gap in the enjoyment of rights for children with disabilities. OCO View: Some positives but in order to effectively plan services, Government must move toward multi-annual budgeting. 

 

• Children’s Mental Health:  

There is very little detail available on the allocation in the mental health budget for CAMHS, which is very concerning.  There is also no mention of the counselling and well-being initiative in schools. 

OCO view: It appears that children’s mental health supports have been overlooked in this budget.  

 

• Children in Direct Provision:  

There is still no Child Benefit type payment for children in direct provision, despite being committed to in Budget 2024. 

OCO view: This must be actioned without delay to address high rates of deprivation experienced by children in direct provision. 

 

• Children in contact with the law  

Increased funding of €7.3 million for youth justice interventions to broaden their scope to include early interventions and provide for the extension of youth diversion programmes throughout the state is welcome.  

OCO view: continued investment in this area is vital alongside continued investment in the court accompaniment service.  

 

• 8 Deireadh Fomhair 2025
• Cineál: Ráiteas
• Ábhar: Leanaí faoi chúram