Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. It is important to acknowledge that progress is being made. A Deputy having listened to the Deputy's initial question would have thought no progress was being made. However, very significant progress is being made in reducing child poverty but it must be recognised there are continuing problems, particularly among single parents and the low-paid at work.

The initiative brought in by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, uses that targeted payment to support low-income parents sending their children to professional preschool. We are seeing an increasing improvement in the quality of professional preschool provision. Deputy Broughan will know from his experience in the Darndale area how this intervention supports parents in those early years and has a significant and successful impact on children’s ability and performance and ability in education. The emphasis the Government has put on early intervention is important. I hope we can improve supports in this area. There will be constrained resources in the forthcoming budget but I believe, as does the Deputy, that reducing child poverty should be a high priority.

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