Clare Fm - Podcasts

Over 1,000 families in Clare have benefitted from a new Government grant established to assist parents of newborns. Introduced in Budget 2025, the Newborn Baby Grant gives a once-off payment of €280 to families for the purpose of providing for the material needs of newborn babies and newly-adopted children. The grant was paid in respect of almost 50,00 children last year at a cost of €14 million, with 1,041 Clare families receiving a payment under the initiative, resulting in supports for 1,053 babies in the county. Coordinator of the West Clare Family Resource Centre Mary O'Donoghue says when a new baby enters a household, every little helps.