411. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any plans or research that has been carried out into the merits of providing a family payment scheme that would allow one parent to work in the home and care for their children in cases whereby this would otherwise be impossible due to financial constraints. [66828/26]

The Government is committed to supporting families in meeting the costs of raising children, and a wide range of supports are available across Government to help ease financial pressures on families. Several family leaves and benefits are available in the first crucial period of a child’s life. My colleague the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has legal and policy responsibility for all family leaves. The Department of Social Protection has legal and policy responsibility for the associated benefits.

Employed and self-employed parents who take leave from work and satisfy the relevant Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions may avail of up to 46 weeks of leave in a two-parent household during the first two years of a child's life or following the placement of a child for adoption. These family benefits are currently paid at a weekly rate of €299.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a pay-related Parent's Benefit and to explore whether a similar model could be applied to other social welfare payments. To advance this commitment, I intend to publish a public consultation seeking the views of stakeholders on the introduction of a pay-related approach to Parent's Benefit.

In addition, my Department provides a number of key supports for families. The structure of most social welfare payments is such that a person who qualifies for a payment, receives a personal rate of payment. Depending on their circumstances and those of their spouse, partner or cohabitant, they may also qualify for an additional payment known as an Increase for a Qualified Adult, which is typically 66% of the rate of the primary payment. In addition, recipients with dependent children may receive a Child Support Payment of €58 per week for each child under 12 years of age and €78 per week for each child aged 12 years or over. These supplementary payments provide additional support towards the cost of raising a family.

The Working Family Payment is a tax free in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold as related to the family size (the number of children in a household) and the household must be working as an employee for at least 38 hours per fortnight (equivalent to 19.5 hours per week). Where there are two working adults in the household their hours can be combined to meet the requirement of 38 hours per fortnight.

Alternatively, if one parent meets the requirement of 38 hours of employment per fortnight then there is no additional requirement for the other parent to work in order to access the scheme.

Under the Working Family Payment, the recipient would receive 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the income limit that applies to their family.

Finally, Child Benefit is a monthly payment payable in respect of all eligible children up to 16 years of age. Payment may continue until a child reaches 19 years of age where they are in full-time education or have a disability.

Reducing child poverty and ensuring every child has the best start in life are key priorities for this Government. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to examine the introduction of a Targeted Child Benefit payment. In support of this commitment, my Department recently conducted a public consultation on the proposed Working Age Payment and Targeted Child Payment. The consultation process generated significant engagement from individuals, representative bodies and stakeholders, with broad support expressed for the objective of reducing poverty, improving income adequacy and ensuring that work pays.

My Department is undertaking further analysis and consideration of the issues raised, including the detailed design of any future child payment. No decisions have been made, and any proposals brought forward will be shaped by the evidence and stakeholder feedback received through the consultation process.