Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 75 and 101 together.

The reduction and eventual elimination of child poverty is a national priority and at the very core of the strategic process to combat poverty and social exclusion, as set out in Towards 2016, the NAPinclusion, and the social inclusion commitments in the NDP.

One of the 12 high level goals set out in the NAPinclusion focuses on achieving significant real increases in income supports for children. Three others address education initiatives. In addition, the detailed action targets in the plan cover services, such as health, education, income support, early childhood development and care, identified by The Combat Poverty Agency as highly important in tackling poverty in families and ensuring that children reach their true potential.

Children growing up in low income or jobless households are the most vulnerable to poverty. Many of these households are composed of large families with three or more children, and those headed by lone parents. The responsibilities involved in providing proper care for children can create obstacles for parents in taking up employment that provides a decent household income for their family. The NAPinclusion addresses this by providing for a case management approach that will encompass, in an integrated way, appropriate income support, child care services, and education and training to enable parents overcome these obstacles. National and international evidence shows that employment participation is, as I stated earlier, the main route out of poverty.

Research has a key role in supporting and facilitating policy development and the evaluation of policies, with particular reference to the outcomes being achieved. The Office for Social Inclusion commissioned the ESRI to produce a series of social portraits on the various life cycle groups. One such portrait, on children, published earlier this year, shows the current situation. This will form a basis to track progress of the ten year national action plan over the period of its implementation. Similar evidence of progress over this period will emerge from the seven year National Longitudinal Study of Children which commenced in May last. This outcomes based approach will also assist in identifying policy areas where more specific, tailored research is required. Furthermore, policy development will build on the excellent research already completed at national level and comparative research at international levels will enable us to learn from best practice in other countries.

Significant progress has been made in reducing child poverty and material deprivation. The latest EU-SILC survey shows, for example, that in the period 2003 to 2005 the proportion of children in consistent poverty has reduced from 12.2% to 10.2%. I am confident we can build on this over the next ten years and the specific targets set in the NAPinclusion can be achieved.

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