Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I asked for the Minister's opinion on the research conducted by the partnership. We would all acknowledge the work of its constituent members in respect of poverty. What are the Minister's opinions on the partnership's findings? While the research established that there have been improvements in many sectors, the partnership's approach to measuring what is required to survive and make ends meet among various family types is a different approach from that taken by the Minister's Department. After the partnership examined 27 family types, it found that 15 types were making ends meet. The remain 12, however, were not.

What is the Minister's opinion on the research and its approach to measuring the adequacy of income? Has the Minister considered adopting that type of approach in her Department? Rates have been set in the Department for different categories of social welfare recipients. Annual increases in benefits tend to be made in line with inflation. The approach proposed in this respect is different; it takes account of the different types of family compositions and the costs involved. One of the key areas to which recognition is not given is the difference in the child care costs associated with children of different ages. For example, whether it be child dependant allowance or the child benefit payment, will the Minister accept there is a world of difference in the costs involved in rearing a two year old and a 16 or 18 year old? Does she consider that the approach taken by the Vincentian Partnership has some merit and might be adopted by her Department?

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