Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

We share the committee's concern about child poverty. The ESRI report is in-depth and interesting. On a second payment, we will consider the ESRI report. The Taoiseach made it clear to me on my appointment that child poverty was a priority for him. His Department is setting up a child poverty unit that we will work with. We are looking at targeted increases to make a difference in specific areas. When one excludes the cost-of-living measures in 2024, expenditure on the children's side of things is up €115 million in 2025. That includes €72 million for schools meals, which I will come back to, €15 million for the new baby grant, €15 million to fund a €60-per-week increase in the income threshold in the working family payment, which is a particularly targeted payment in this space and in which I have a lot of interest. Child poverty will be a priority. We will look at all reports in the context of the budget.

I hope to be back to the committee on this day two weeks, I believe, for Committee Stage on the bereaved partners payment. I am anxious we get it through the Houses this side of the summer recess. We have a budget message to go to the Dáil at some stage in the coming week as well to enable Committee Stage to start. I wish to acknowledge, and always will, Mr. Johnny O'Meara and Deputy Alan Kelly for their work in this space.

Regarding the back to education allowance, that is a consequence of full employment. The allowance supports people on the live register to get training. The live register numbers are very low but we continue to monitor it to make sure nobody is missing out. It is a side-effect of full employment.

Some €1.2 billion of funding has been allocated specifically to the carer's allowance in 2025, supporting more than 101,000 carers. In the programme for Government, there is a timeline for getting rid of the means test over the lifetime of the Government.

That is what I am working towards. In two weeks' time, in July, the weekly income disregard is increasing from €450 to €625 for a single person and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.