European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC)
Ireland
Policies
IRELAND
(55,000 large families)
1. Regarding policies for large families at a national level, please mark the measure you have in your country:
- Direct monetary benefits
- Reduced prices on basic supplies (energy, water, etc.)
- Housing subsidies
- Reduced prices in public transportation
- Tax deductions
- Large families cards
- Longer maternity/paternity leave for large families
- Support to buy a car
- Other benefits
2. Which specific monetary allowances for large families are in your country.
There is a general working family payment for families with one income. Ireland does not have a special allowance for large families.
3. Which specific fiscal deductions for large families are in your country.
Ireland does not offer a specific “large family tax credit.” However, large families can significantly reduce their fiscal burden through the Home Carer Tax Credit (up to €1,950), the Working Family Payment for lower-income households, and medical/educational reliefs Income tax credits and reliefs.
4. Which specific reduced prices on basic supplies for large families are in your country
No specific reduced prices for large families.
5. Which specific benefits are provided by the large families card in your country
There is currently no large families card in Ireland.
6. Which specific maternity or paternity benefits for large families are in your country
All families, small or big, are treated the same.
7. Which specific benefits for large families buying a car are in your country
There are currently no benefits for buying a car.
8. Which specific public transportation benefits for large families are in your country
There are currently no benefits for public transportation.
9. Please write any other specific deductions or benefits for large families that are in your country
Income-assessed National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidy rates increase for each additional child which indirectly supports large families.
10. Are any of the benefits for large families in your country connected to income? If yes, please explain.
There is the Working Family Payment but it is not exclusive to large families.
11. Regarding policies for large families at European level, please mark the measures you have in your country
- Reduced VAT for diapers and basic goods for children
- Unpaid care of children in the household and for other dependent family members is recognized as work when calculating the national GDP
- Permit for large families with 7 and more children to drive the family van without professional driving license
- Basic consumptions tariff: water, electricity, gas, etc. is calculated taking into consideration the number of children
12. If you marked at least one of the measures mentioned above as applicable in your country, please provide details
N/A
(Answers provided by The Irish Large Family Association) Updated 06/2026