https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-call-pay-related-34094499
A new “Pay-Related Parent’s Benefit” will be introduced by Fine Gael to provide parents with increased benefits based on their income, reports The Mirror.
The Irish Mirror is aware that the weekly Parent’s Benefit might rise from €289 to as much as €450 if the party is re-elected. The increment could be applied across several years.
A Budget 2025 decision will raise Parent’s Benefit from €274 per week to €289 starting on January 1.
On Wednesday, Fine Gael will introduce its Childcare Policy at its electoral headquarters in Dublin. The implementation of the Pay-Related Parents Benefit will be a key component of the policy, reports The Mirror.
The Parents’ Benefit rate will be “more closely aligned to a mother or father’s income” under Fine Gael’s proposed changes. This will “encourage” them to “spend valuable time with their newborn children,” according to sources.
During the first two years following a child’s birth or adoption, the Parent’s Benefit is available. Both parents may take it for a maximum of nine weeks, reports The Mirror.
By the end of March, working persons who lose their employment will be eligible for Pay-Related Benefits. For six months, those who leave their jobs will get €450.
It is acknowledged that the Pay-Related Parents Benefit rate may rise to a comparable level over a number of years, reports The Mirror.
Additionally, Fine Gael will guarantee that daycare expenses will not exceed €200 per month for each kid, or €600 for families with more than three children.
A commitment will be made to extend the Hot School Meals Program to all schools.
Strengthening Tusla’s authority to safeguard children will be a priority.
Along with providing an additional hour of free preschool in the second year of the ECCE program, the Fine Gael Childcare Plan also aims to create 30,000 spots in public early learning and school-aged care services, starting with at least 100 new services in the first two years of government and growing yearly after that, reports The Mirror.
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