Newborn baby grant will benefit 80 families in Mayo this week

Mayo TD Keira Keogh has welcomed the rollout of the first Newborn Baby Grant payments, which will see 80 families in Mayo receiving financial support this week to help with the costs associated with the birth of a new baby.

The Newborn Baby Grant, a key initiative announced in Budget 2025, provides a once-off payment of €280 to parents of newborns, in addition to the first month’s Child Benefit payment.

Nationally, over 4,400 families who have had a baby born on or after December 1, 2024, will receive the payment this week, including 80 families in Mayo, supporting a total of 82 children in the county.

Welcoming the news, Deputy Keogh said: “The birth of a baby is one of the happiest occasions in a family's life, but it also comes with many expenses. This grant is an important step in ensuring that parents have the financial support they need at a crucial time.

“Families in Mayo, like those across the country, face significant costs when welcoming a new baby, and this payment will help ease some of that burden.”

From March onwards, all eligible parents will automatically receive the Newborn Baby Grant with their first Child Benefit payment (a total payment of €420), ensuring that new families receive the support without the need for additional applications.

The grant is part of the government's commitment to supporting families and ensuring every child has the best possible start in life. It is expected that in a full year, grants will be issued for approximately 54,000 children across Ireland, with an overall cost of €15 million.

Deputy Keogh reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for measures that ease financial pressures on families, particularly in rural areas like Mayo.