Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will be aware of the report published yesterday showing that there are now 62,000 children living in consistent poverty. That this is the case in this day and age is one of our greatest sources of shame. I accept we have the roadmap to social inclusion, which is important, and I know work is under way in regard to that, but this is something we really need to get to grips with. One of the targeted measures put forward yesterday by the Children's Rights Alliance was to extend the fuel allowance to recipients of the working family payment. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has sought that for some time and it should be considered in the budget. That is the reason I raise the matter this morning.

We know there are approximately 370,000 people in low-paid work. Pre-Covid, it was approximately one in five people. That is very much at odds with the fact that there are just 47,000 people in receipt of the working family payment. Perhaps the promotion of the scheme could be considered again. I know that has been done but the figures do not seem to add up.

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