Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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I was struck by something Ms Kiernan was saying about the numerous reports over the years on the impact of child poverty and yet here we are talking about it again. The numerous reports talked about what can be done and how the situation can be improved and the consequences if we do not act. Most of the witnesses before the committee have been working in this field for a while and are experienced and knowledgeable about what is happening on the ground and about these reports. I guess what I want to hear more about is where are the roadblocks. The witnesses are engaging with Deputies and with Departments. Where are the roadblocks? Where is the bureaucracy getting in their way? We have all these reports and very little changes. What is the stumbling block? What is the roadblock? Equally, what are the policies that have worked? What are the things that we should be doing more of? What assist - a policy or scheme - that works are we not doing enough of?

I am conscious as well that Ms McKenna was talking about the access programmes. These are normally held in quite high regard but, from what Ms McKenna says, they are not helping enough the issue of an educational divide at third level. Obviously, there is much going on right back from when a child is born and the access schemes only kick-in in the middle of secondary school. Much damage and harm is already done by that point.

I guess those are my two questions. What are the roadblocks that the witnesses have experienced and why have these reports not been implemented previously? What are the policies that we currently have that work and we should be spending more time on?