Community Foundation Ireland partners in communities, research and advocacy and have had a positive impact and influence on Budget 2025 – though challenges remain.
Positive developments to end child poverty, respond to sexual violence, tackle climate and biodiversity change as well as measures to help communities thrive have all been included.
Yet we must also be conscious that core welfare payments continue to fall short and are not keeping pace with inflation.
There will be much to consider in the coming days – but for now I would like to share some highlights from Budget 2025 and how it helps our mission of Equality For All In Thriving Communities.
Budget 2025 contains significant supports for families which the Foundation has worked with partners to achieve, including the Children’s Rights Alliance. These include
The Extension of Free School Meals to every child in primary schools during 2025
A Pilot ‘Holiday Hunger’ Scheme for next Summer
Free Schools Books for all in secondary school – representing a saving of 213 Euro for every 5th Year student
Hundreds of communities take climate and nature action thanks to our partnership with Government. It is an area where partnership is key. Budget 2025 has measures which will strengthen this work and allow more communities to act.
Continue to resource and expand the Local Biodiversity Action Fund
The National Biodiversity Data Centre to extend its programmes
Continue to fund our transition to a climate neutral economy, and to support people and communities that may be negatively affected by the transition.
We partner with the frontline agencies protecting victims of sexual violence. The extra 7.9 Million Euro in support to those working with victims is welcome. The Community Foundation continues to support those victims who are harder to reach. We will be working to ensure that exit routes out of prostitution are developed and that those trafficked into Ireland are given proper protections and supports.
Supporting those fleeing for their lives and the communities which welcome them has been included in Budget 2025. Community Foundation Ireland has been working with communities, advocates and campaigners to meet this significant challenge. The Budget includes.
€13 Million to help integrate arrivals from Ukraine into our local communities through social and inclusion projects as well as Community activation programmes
An additional €25 Million to the Community Recognition Fund to support those communities who welcomed those who are in such need
The extra support for communities and the one-off cost of living welfare supports will go someway to address the concerns raised in our Poverty, Income Inequality and Living Standards Research with the ESRI. However Budget 2025 fails to bring core welfare payments into line with inflation.
The true impact of Budget 2025 will be measured by how many of the 230,000 children living in material deprivation will be lifted out of poverty. The Community Foundation invests in strategic research to answer such questions. In 2025 we will continue with key partnerships to produce the Child Poverty Monitor with the Children’s Rights Alliance as well as continuing our research with the ESRI.
Such research will not only measure the impact of the budget but will guide our future actions with our 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable partners.
Denise Charlton is Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland
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