Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The CSO published a survey on income and living conditions in Ireland and, by any stretch of the imagination it makes very disturbing reading, particular as regards child poverty. Over the last weeks we have seen many announcements by Ministers and Ministers of State on commitments to be entered into over the next 18 months. In other words, these are election promises, including promise on child care and funding for GP cards. Could we not have a genuine debate in the Chamber on the direction we are beginning to take? We are now leaving cohorts of our community behind as the Government convinces itself and tries to convince the public that everything is rosy in everybody's garden. I assure the Tánaiste that there is a great deal of poverty and deprivation and the idea that the Government can spin the living standards survey upwards is not possible. It must be done by meaningful targeted policies.

The CSO's survey on income and living conditions is an indication - as has been highlighted by the ESRI previously - that the Government is targeting its scarce resources in the wrong areas. It is time to have a debate on this and the direction we are taking with regard to where we are providing funding and scarce State resources to those who most need them. The income report highlights that in stark terms.

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