Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

Any reference the Minister makes to consistent poverty has nothing to do with my question. The UN body compared 25 industrial nations and Ireland ranked 22nd. Regardless of the direction of Government policy, and the Minister's answer admits it has been painfully slow, Ireland should not be in this position after ten years of economic growth. The measures that need to be implemented are found in the countries that were most successful in this study. The rate of child poverty for Ireland, the UK and the US is 15% of the population. The Nordic equivalent, in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, is 5%. Aside from the publication of the action plan on social inclusion the Minister should set clear targets to reduce the figure of 15% to 5% in a short time. He has not done so to date.

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