Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I welcome our witnesses today. I understand from their introduction that nobody wants a target for child poverty but that there is a target and I get that the Minister is working towards getting rid of child poverty. How much does the Department think it will to cost to get to zero child poverty or to the target the Minister has set and how many years will it take to get there?

The working family payment increase of €60 is very welcome, but will the officials confirm that working family payment recipients do not get child support payments and do not qualify for them? How many of those who are entitled to the working family payment are losing out on the child support payment as a result?