Dr. Naomi Feely:

We have had really good engagement with the office. The then Taoiseach announced the establishment of the office in a speech in December 2022. We met him shortly after that to share our views on what the focus of the office could be. We have had sustained engagement with the office on specific issues and it has spoken at our events. The assistant secretary spoke at the recent launch of our child poverty monitor event. We have raised issues around food poverty with the office, along with broader issues relating to child poverty. We were also in attendance at the inaugural child poverty summit held last year. We did not mention the office in our opening statement. In our child poverty monitor, however, we highlighted the work the office has done, including its analysis of the two most recent budgets and how they have responded to child poverty.

On the Deputy's initial statement on the level of deprivation, it is hugely concerning to the alliance. It is something that we cover quite comprehensively in the child poverty monitor. I am happy to speak further on that if the Deputy wishes.