Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development

Child Poverty: Discussion

2:00 am

Mr. Paul Ginnell:

Yes. There are a number of ways to see this. The data shows that there are still challenges, that there has been no progress for some groups and that poverty levels have actually increased since the commencement of this strategy. Some of the groups feel there has been no progress for them. There is a little progress in some areas. The increase in child support payments is important, as are hot school meals. There are small changes and small things are moving, but, overall, there is no real progress. That is our call in respect of the new strategy. There are over 80 commitments in the current roadmap. They have to be effective in achieving the targets that are set. There are commitments that are reported as being achieved but their impact has not moved the dial. A lot of the commitments relate to publishing strategies and establishing committees. These are inputs rather than impact-based commitments. It is key that commitments in the new strategy be written with a view to what is actually going to deliver an impact for the groups living in poverty.

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