James Reilly (Dublin North, 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 are available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the national action plan for social inclusion, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020, which was published and launched by the Government in 2014. The plan provides the overarching framework for the development and implementation of policy and services for children and young people. As provided for in the framework, the Department of Social Protection, the lead Department on the issue of child poverty, has lead responsibility for a specific commitment to a national child-specific social target to lift over 70,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020, a reduction of at least two thirds on the 2011 level.

My Department is working on a number of initiatives which are relevant in addressing issues related to child poverty. For example, it is leading the implementation of the area-based childhood programme 2013-16 which is being co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and will have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million. The programme draws on best international practice to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched and improve the outcomes for children, young people and existing services.

My Department is spending €260 million annually on child care support programmes which provide child care for 100,000 children. A number of these programmes are targeted at those on lowest incomes. The child care subvention programme provides subvention support for parents on low incomes and parents in receipt of certain social welfare payments whose children are enrolled in community child care facilities. Additionally, the three training and employment child care programmes - the child care education and training programme, the community employment child care programme and the after school child care programme - provide child care supports for eligible parents returning to work or education.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

My Department also provides funding for targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at-risk young people through three schemes. The three programmes are the special projects for youth scheme; the young people's facilities and services fund; and the local drugs task force projects. In addition, national and regional youth work organisations are supported under my Department's youth service grants scheme. In 2014 current funding of €49.78 million has been provided for my Department for these schemes. I am pleased to advise that budget 2015 has confirmed that funding of €49.78 million will again be provided for my Department in 2015 to support the provision of youth services. There will be no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which is a key priority for youth organisations.

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