Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank our guests for their attending. Unfortunately, child poverty is one of the biggest issues in my area, although I hope that will not always be the case.

My first question is directed at our guests from the Childrens Rights Alliance. I had not been aware of the child poverty unit that was set up in Britain in 1999, so I carried out a little research on it. Will our guests elaborate on it? I understand the overall aim was to reduce child poverty and improve social justice, with a cross-departmental approach, which was welcome.

That seems to be an approach that is being asked for in an awful lot of briefs. I am Sinn Féin's spokesperson on mental health and many people say there should be a cross-departmental approach to that area, and I agree. The UK approach is underpinned by the Child Poverty Act. Is there similar Irish legislation? If not, is that something that is needed? What learnings can we take from the child poverty unity in Britain? That is my first question.

My second question is for SPARK and I will put it to its representatives now, if that is okay with the Chair. It was not in SPARK's opening statement but was in the supplementary document they provided on insecure housing and HAP tenancies. It is a big issue. Only last week, Focus Ireland had a report that said a high percentage of the rental units currently available are unaffordable for people, even when they have access to HAP. Thus, I support in theory SPARK's call for HAP rates to be increased to keep them in line with the market rates. However, that needs to be added on. There needs to be a rent freeze at the same time. Otherwise, the market will adapt and swallow up any increases in HAP and the residents will not see any benefits from it. Will SPARK outline some of the challenges people are facing in insecure HAP tenancies, especially in the context of child poverty?