Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Healy raised the matter of child poverty. The figures on child poverty are of concern. The best way out of poverty is through employment and that is the reason the Government is focusing on the creation of more jobs and tackling the economic issues. If we want to deal with child poverty we have to deal with the economy. Deputy Healy is correct that we have to ensure that the strongest possible supports are in place to enable those families to return to the workforce. A job is the road out of poverty and unemployment and is one of the key methods for tackling that issue. We must ensure that those families most at risk are given the most support. This will be my intention in the budget.