Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate and I thank the Sinn Féin party for tabling the motion. I have no doubt that Members on all sides of the House and the public are in agreement that investing in our country's children, tackling child poverty and removing poverty traps from the social welfare system are issues of immense importance. During the economic boom, the overall amount devoted to expenditure on children grew significantly. However, it is now abundantly clear that simply throwing money at the problem of child poverty is not, in itself, a solution. Real, practical and structural reform is required. I appreciate the Minister's use of the term "structural reform".

Last week I visited a number of child and family resource centres and youth facilities throughout County Wicklow in the company of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. We saw first hand the excellent work being done at so many levels in communities in homework clubs, breakfast clubs, youth centres and through the provision of child care and training and further education for young parents. So much is being done by so many, often on a voluntary basis. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge this in any debate relating to child poverty and the need to support this nation's children. I warmly welcome the fact that the Minister has asked the advisory group on tax and social welfare to prioritise the matter of family and child income supports. This highlights the importance the Government attaches to this issue.

I understand that the Minister and the Government are constrained in the context of the current economic situation. The Government finds itself in a position which no one would wish to occupy. We must restore our economic sovereignty and independence so that we might control our own future and that of our children as quickly as possible. There are a number of actions the Government can take if we are to genuinely tackle issues relating to supporting the vulnerable, protecting children and targeting limited resources at the areas in which they are most needed and can be best used.

I refer to three matters to which the Minister for Social Protection should give consideration. The first of these is the elimination of poverty traps in the current social welfare system. We hear about such traps each year when the budget is about to be introduced. It is time we stopped talking about these traps and began trying to eradicate them. Social welfare is there to help people when they are in need; it should not create an environment in which an individual, often a young parent, finds himself or herself unable to return to the workforce or to take up a training opportunity for fear of losing too many supports. We must assist those who are doing their level best for their families, specifically their children. I urge the Minister to consider ways of assisting people in respect of the transition from the social welfare system into the workforce. This is something positive and constructive which could be achieved within the economic constraints that apply.

The second matter relates to co-ordination between Departments and State agencies. The Committee of Public Accounts is continually being informed that various computer systems do not communicate with each other. Last week we were informed that there is not even in existence a database relating to primary school children. If we want to get serious with regard to targeting resources, tracking children's progress and ensuring that the vulnerable are protected, it is high time the computer systems to which I refer began communicating with each other. I do not know who "Mr. Systemic Failure" is but he seems to be responsible for all the problems that have arisen in this country during my lifetime.

The third matter I wish to raise is one in respect of which I possibly differ from colleagues on this and the opposite side of the House. I refer to the need to target resources. I take the Minister's point that universality is desirable and that there are other supports available. However, the blunt increases provided in recent years did not take account of the broader point regarding the need to protect children.

The opposite is also true. A blunt decrease will affect everybody equally despite the fact that some may be more vulnerable than others. This is an area at which we need to look. The Minister may tell me, correctly, that she does not have it within the ability of the current system to do it this year, but let us hope that by next year's budget we are not using the same line and there is reform to ensure that the funding goes where we all want it to go.

These are three constructive measures the Minister could take. Child poverty must be addressed comprehensively and this can not be achieved without these reforms to the social welfare system.

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