Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

I am glad to hear the new strategy will involve a comprehensive early years policy. How will the new strategy address the alarming rates of child poverty in Ireland, with over 19% of children at risk of poverty and 9% of children living in consistent poverty? What are the Minister's views of the fact that measures introduced in the budget may result in an increase in these rates, given there were cuts in child benefit for third and further children, cuts in the back to school allowance and that one parent families have been hit by the budget, where 65% of the poorest children come from? Will the new strategy deal with this problem?

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