Fine Gael have laid out an ambitious plan to reduce child poverty and make Ireland a better place to raise a child, a local TD said.
Minister for Business, Employment and Retail and General Election candidate in Dublin Mid West, Emer Higgins said: “Every child deserves the best start in life, Fine Gael will have a determined focus to lift children out of poverty. “We will set an ambitious child poverty target, increase Child Benefit, extend free GP care and expand Hot School Meals to all schools and tackle holiday hunger.
“We also know that supporting children means supporting parents. We will introduce a permanent double child benefit, paid to parents in August to help families in Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Brittas, and Citywest with back-to-school costs when many parents may be forced to turn to lenders.
“Fine Gael has committed to extending paid family leave, and also introducing pay-related rates of Parents Benefit. This will ensure that for parents in Dublin Mid West financial implications are not a factor when they’re choosing to take this time with their families. “We will also extend jobseekers supports for parents and examine a second tier of child benefit.
“Crucially, Fine Gael will provide a Baby Bundle to newborns across Ireland which is a box of essentials for parents and their new arrival. From nappies to thermometers, it will ensure that no matter who your parents are, each child has the essentials they need for a good start to life. “Fine Gael has long been determined to improve the lives for children in Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Brittas, and Citywest and in Ireland, this will not change,” Higgins concluded.
