Budget 2026 will ensure greater access to childcare and investment in high-quality education, a Fine Gael Senator has said. Senator Linda Nelson Murray said this budget will alleviate pressure on childcare in key areas such as supply, staffing, and tackling disadvantage. “Budget 2026 is supporting families, particularly targeting those who need our help the most.
“We all know parents are crying out for more childcare places and Budget 2026 will help do that. It will continue the implementation of the National Childcare Scheme with more than 286,000 individual children set to benefit from the scheme in 2026, an increase of approximately 35,000 from 2025. “We will see an increase in the weekly rates of the Child Support Payment by €8 per week for children under 12 and by €16 per week for children 12 and over, which will come as a relief to so many families.
“We’ve all seen the importance of the Back-To-School Clothing and Footwear Payment, and this will now be expanded to 2 and 3-year-olds, helping household costs for families. “We’re also supporting children and families across Meath through an €13.1bn education budget.
“Minister Helen McEntee will introduce DEIS + which means extra funding for schools in areas where children are at the highest risk of disadvantage. “Significant investment is being made in special education with 860 additional special education teachers.
“A new Education Therapy Service will roll out therapy supports directly into special schools and over 1,700 additional SNAs. “We’ll also see an increase in school funding across primary and post-primary schools, and 1,042 additional teaching posts.
“Fine Gael, and Minister McEntee want to support families and these measures will go a long way to supporting families and children in Meath, concluded Senator Linda Nelson Murray.
