Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister to consider and engage with his Cabinet colleagues on the establishment of a cross-departmental task force to address the issue of child poverty. I do not believe this is something which should be baulked at or regarded as almost unnecessary. We have to look at the facts as designated in the UNICEF report. I refer to Ireland's statistical position across the 41 countries surveyed, which include both OECD and European Union member democracies. Ireland is listed at No. 37, with only Croatia, Latvia, Greece and Iceland recording worse levels of child poverty. This is particularly attributable to the period 2008 to 2012 cited in the report. During the same period 18 of the countries surveyed actually recorded a reduction in child poverty. They included Chile, Australia and Poland which recorded a reduction of 7.9%. We are not getting it right. I know that it is not only the Minister's responsibility and I am not targeting him in that respect. However, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, he should be the lead Minister and head of the lead Department. I ask for his view of the proposition that a cross-departmental task force be established. I have instanced the different issues that can impact on the reality of life for a child which can be the reality of life for him or her throughout his or her lifetime. Therefore, I urge the Minister to consider that proposition.

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