Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

With regard to tackling poverty, much of the research shows that children most at risk of being in poverty are in families with low educational levels because it is difficult for the parents to get a job. The research is similar in the UK and the US and it shows that children in those families are at a greater risk of growing up and going from being a child in an income poor household to an adult who is income poor as well. As we focus on trying to improve outcomes for children, the critical issue in the budget is that the Government reforms how the society gives opportunities and options to them and their parents. I have often referred to changing our social protection system from being passive to being active and giving parents an opportunity to get back to education and training, and, ultimately, giving them an opportunity to secure a job. That, in turn, is probably the best way to assist a child to progress in school and to become a financially independent adult. I hope everybody in the House shares that objective.

I cannot comment in detail on the budget but Deputies opposite can rest assured that I have always defended the interests of children and families and universal child benefit payments. I am having conversations with my colleagues in Government and we shall see next week. Unfortunately, it will be necessary to achieve cutbacks, just as it has been necessary for Sinn Féin politicians to commit themselves to cutbacks in the North as well.

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