Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that the numbers I have just given do not reflect the economic progress we are seeing because they are the figures to the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016. Thankfully, in 2018 there are 320,000 more people working than when the Deputy's party left government in 2011. Ensuring someone has a job is the single greatest thing any economy or government can do to try to take adults and children out of poverty. There are some specific measures in the action plan. The latest CSO survey of income and living conditions shows that the number of children living in consistent poverty fell to 11.1% in 2016. Given the continued economic recovery this and the last Government have seen, it is reasonable to expect that future figures to show further improvements. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure the economic recovery is experienced by every person and in every county. A key driver in preventing children from experiencing poverty has been social transfers, as indicated in the reduced averages, as well as child dependant payments and child benefit. EUROSTAT data show that we reduce the at-risk-of-poverty rate before social transfers from just over 40% to just under 19% after social transfers. We know that social transfers work. We also know that the Government can only aid economic recovery, but when we have resources and the fruits of economic recovery, we can make sure they are targeted at the most vulnerable through the Social Welfare Bill. That is my job and what I intend to do.

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