Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies again for their questions. Deputy McAuliffe mentioned the very positive impact of the free school books scheme in primary schools and how it has relieved the pressure on parents trying to get their kids out for going back to school. I would add to that the hot school meals programme, which I think is very valuable, as well as the increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, which helped a lot of people in the months just gone by. It is unfortunate that when we calculate poverty statistics, none of that is taken into account. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is, but things like free GP care, lower childcare costs, hot school meals, free school books - none of that is taken into account because it is a service or help in kind rather than help in cash. One of things we are going to need is to do more research as to how we can measure these things a little bit better. I do not like the fact that the value of these things does not affect those numbers when really it should, in my view.

Deputy McAuliffe also mentioned small geographical areas that are affected by severe disadvantage. I do not think it is a case of one-size-fits-all. We do have a targeted programme under way for quite some time in the north-east inner city. We have one in Drogheda as well. I think there are plans for Cherry Orchard too. I know Ballymun is under consideration as well and that the Deputy has a particular interest in that part of the city. It is something we need to extend to more areas and to do it on a programme-based, logical basis, based on data, deprivation data in particular. It is something we are working on at the moment.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of hot school meals and suggested they be extended to all schools. I definitely agree with that sentiment. We should not forget that most disadvantaged kids do not attend DEIS schools.

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There are children who may not be classified as being disadvantaged but for whatever reasons their parents do not provide them with the basic meals that they need. I know the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is a particular fan of the hot school meals programme. She wants to expand it and has sought expressions of interest from non-DEIS schools that may be interested in taking up the programme. Again, I am not sure how much will be provided for that in the budget at this stage because nothing has yet been agreed.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor also advocated in favour of extending free school books to secondary schools. I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, has said that is very much part of her medium-to-long-term plan as well. Again, at this stage I cannot say what will or not be in the budget next Tuesday because it is not agreed yet.

On funding for childcare and early years education, funding is now more than €1 billion a year so it has increased very significantly. The focus we want for the next couple of years is on affordability, that is, making childcare more affordable for parents, making it more available, because I know that is a huge issue in large parts of the country, including in my constituency where it is very difficult to get a place at all at the moment, and also raising standards and quality.

With regard to the challenge of family homelessness, which was raised by a number of Deputies, in July, 1,839 families were in State-provided emergency accommodation. That included 3,829 children. That is a shockingly high number. It is already too many. The solution is additional social housing, and lots of it. We are ramping up social housing dramatically at the moment. More social housing was built last year than in any year since the 1970s, and I believe we will exceed that again this year. Social housing benefits everyone, not just those who receive it but it also frees up properties for other people to rent and has a dampening effect on house prices in general. It is a good thing that over the past ten years we have seen a significant increase in social housing, both in raw numbers and percentage terms, and we want that to continue.

In terms of the eviction ban, as Deputies will know unfortunately when it was in place last year, homelessness continued to rise, and it has been rising at a rate of 1% or 2% per month since the ban was lifted.

Housing for All commits to enhancing prevention and early intervention services for children and their families to provide improved tenancy sustainment measures to families experiencing long-term homelessness to help them exit from homelessness and maintain their homes. Budget 2023 allocated €10 million in capital funding for emergency accommodation for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. This will achieve the expansion of Housing First towards the achievement of more than 1,300 new Housing First tenancies.

Guaranteed State investment of more than €4 billion a year in housing is aimed at increasing housing supply. Indicators are positive and show that the Housing for All plan is taking root and supply is increasing. Further measures also being taken to deal with family homelessness are to increase and accelerate the supply of social housing, which I mentioned earlier, an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions under the tenant in situscheme - we aimed to purchase about 1,500 homes from landlords selling up this year, allowing those tenants to transition from housing assistance payment, HAP, and rental accommodation scheme, RAS, to a regular social housing tenancy - and funding in place to provide 11,813 new social homes this year, of which more than 9,000 will be new builds. The Department is also working with local authorities to bring on stream an additional 2,000 beds in homeless emergency accommodation.

Deputy Paul Murphy mentioned Fintan O'Toole's article in The Irish Timestoday. I have not had a chance to read it yet but I will. I know he writes very well on this particular issue.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised the issue of adult day services. I know that is a priority for the Department. There have been some real difficulties recruiting staff. I will make sure he gets a more detailed reply in writing from the Department.

Deputy Ó Murchú made a very strong case for projects that are helping children in Dundalk. He made a very good argument for funding to be retained for those services.

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