Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising a key issue at this time of year and throughout the year generally. We in the Government prioritise poverty across all key social policy areas. The budget reflected that in the form of increased supports for those on low incomes, those in poverty and those at risk of poverty, including improved access to services. The hot meals programme was extended and expanded. If we can expand it further, we will, targeting it at families, children and schools that require it. There was an increase of €10 per week to the working family payment income threshold for all family sizes. There were increases in the rate of increase for a qualified child to €40 per week for children under 12 and €48 per week for children 12 years and older. There was an increase of €5 per week to the maximum rate for all working-age payments in the social protection measures in the budget, including carer's allowance, disability allowance and the one-parent family payment, with proportional increases for reduced rates and qualified adult rates. There was an increase of €10 to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and the increase in the fuel allowance from €28 to €33 per week.

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