The government are not currently discussing any new policies at the next Budget to support people having bigger families as a way of addressing declining birthrates and demographics, according to Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin today, Donohoe said that one of the purposes of the national child care scheme and child benefit was to “support parents with their families and with the cost of bringing those families up.”
"We still have a population that's growing": @Ben_Scallan asked if the Irish government plans to promote bigger families.
— gript (@griptmedia) August 8, 2024
Minister Paschal Donohoe said that such measures aren't being discussed, adding: "I'm not sure they're as needed in Ireland as they are in other countries." pic.twitter.com/769oK26X5X
However, in response to a question from Gript, he said that there were no plans currently to add to these policies, and that such measures weren’t as needed in Ireland as they are in other countries with lower fertility rates.
“It hasn’t been raised with me so far that we need to bring in additional measures to support the growth of families, and I’m not sure there is needed in Ireland as they are in other countries,” he said.
“While overall we are seeing changes with regard to fertility levels and we’re seeing changes with regard to family formation levels here within Ireland, we still have a population that is growing in our country, which is very different to other countries who are bringing in these measures.”
He added: “Measures like the national Child Care scheme, I believe already deliver against that point. And I’m sure that when I meet [Children’s] Minister O’Gorman in September, he’ll want to find ways of improving that scheme further.”
In late June of this year, Finance Minister Jack Chambers identified Ireland’s demographics as a “long-term risk” to the economy – though he said he was “receiving further briefings from officials” on whether or not the government would be incentivising bigger families in response.
Ireland's newly-appointed Finance Minister, Jack Chambers, has mentioned ageing "demographics" as a long-term "risk" to the Irish economy.@Ben_Scallan asks if his government has any plans to incentivise people to have more children to deal with the problem. pic.twitter.com/T41gNOys9D
— gript (@griptmedia) June 27, 2024
Moreover, at last year’s Budget, Gript asked Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys if Ireland would be pursuing any Hungary-style policies to try and increase birthrates.
“No, not that I’m aware of…I’m not aware of any initiative in terms of increasing the birthrates,” Humphreys replied at the time.
Irish Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is responsible for pensions, says she's not aware of any plans the Irish government has to increase birthrates, despite the demographic timebomb threatening pensions long-term. Question by @Ben_Scallan #gript pic.twitter.com/SBV3lGPnai
— gript (@griptmedia) October 10, 2023
Significantly, during the 2020 General Election debates, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked how her party would handle problems like the pensions crisis. She replied that “demographics” would take care of the problem.
“So you’re encouraging people to procreate?” the host asked, to which McDonald replied: “Absolutely.”
This was met with mockery by one Fine Gael campaign advisor at the tine, who controversially referred to the Sinn Féin leader as “Mary Lube McDonald”, dismissing the birthrates suggestion outright.