Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports is available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection has lead responsibility for the national action plan for social inclusion.

In regard to issues pertaining to my Department, we are working on a number of initiatives which are relevant in addressing issues related to children experiencing deprivation. For example, my Department is taking the lead in implementing the area-based childhood programme. This programme is being co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and will have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million. It is being introduced on foot of the programme for Government commitment to adopt an area-based approach to child poverty, drawing on best international practice and existing services to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched and improve outcomes for children and young people. I acknowledge that Deputy McGrath's constituency is one containing an unacceptable level of disadvantage.

As provided for in the recently published document, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, the Department of Social Protection, under commitment 4.2 therein, has lead responsibility for a national child-specific social target to lift 70,000 children out of consistent poverty in the coming six-year period, a reduction of at least two thirds on the 2011 level. This target will include reducing the poverty rate for households with children, which is consistently higher when compared with non-child households - 8.8% versus 4.2% - and for children as compared with adults, which is 9.3% versus 6%. It is expected that this commitment will be addressed on a cross-departmental basis.

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A number of other areas of my Department also contribute to the support of families experiencing poverty. Approximately €260 million is invested annually by the Government specifically to support the provision of early childhood care and education through three child care support programmes. These child care programmes, implemented by my Department, support the provision of childhood care and education for more than 100,000 children each year.

A number of these programmes are targeted at those on lowest incomes. The Child and Family Agency provides a range of services and supports to families experiencing difficulty, for example, the statutory Education Welfare Service has specific responsibility for the agency's general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.

The youth services provide targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people and these services are funded through the special projects for youth scheme, the young people's facilities and services fund and local drugs task force projects. In addition, national and regional youth work organisations are supported under my Department's youth service grant scheme. In 2014, current funding of €49.78 million has been provided to my Department for these schemes.

My Department is actively involved in supporting cross-Government policies and programmes seeking to promote the economic security and opportunity of children and families.

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