Some positive measures for women but scale of ambition for gender equality missing in Budget 2026

Published: Friday, October 10, 2025

National Women’s Council publishes detailed analysis of Budget 2026 and its impact on women 

Press Release, 10th October 2025 

In response to Budget 2026, the National Women’s Council (NWC) today published a detailed analysis of the impact of Budget measures on women.  

The analysis finds that despite some welcome positive measures for women, the scale of ambition required in addressing the key issues affecting women, including tackling poverty, protecting public services, and meeting our climate and environmental goals is missing.  

The document examines the Government’s measures in relation to: 

• Early Childhood Education and Care 
• Health 
• Violence against Women 
• Housing, Homelessness and Accommodation 
• Climate and Environment 
• Social Protection and Tax  

Donal Swan, Women’s Economic Equality Coordinator with the National Women’s Council said, 

“There are some very welcome commitments in Budget 2026 for women. These include permanent social protection measures like the increase in and extension of the Fuel Allowance. We also welcome the investment in early childhood education and care and health. In particular, the announced small pilot programme for the acquisition and fit-out of state-led childcare settings in areas where provision is lacking is very welcome. While more information is needed, this has the potential to be a crucial first step towards the public system of early childhood education and care that we need.  

However, our members would have liked to see a much clearer focus on tackling the systemic inequalities that women, particularly women from marginalised communities, face. The scale of investment needed to develop our public services to be fully accessible and universal in their support of women is missing.  Much of the funding provided is to meet increasing demographic demand. NWC would have liked to see a greater focus on new development funding.” 

Donal Swan continued,  

“While Budget 2026 maintains many elements of existing climate investment at or a little above the same level as last year, it does not feature the scale of increase we need to see in order to reach our climate goals. This risks undermining both climate progress and gender equality, as socially just climate action is essential to protecting women’s livelihoods, health, and wellbeing. 

Although there are no major income tax cuts in this Budget, which would have disproportionately benefitted men, there are also no moves to broaden the tax base against potential shocks. This leaves public services vulnerable in the event of a downturn, which will greatly impact women if the services are not protected.”  

Read the detailed analysis here.