Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The Government is keenly aware of issues in relation to child poverty and these issues formed a critical input into the development of the budget, which included the largest social welfare package in the history of the State. It provided €2.6 billion to assist households. The analysis published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform shows the budget 2025 core package of tax and expenditure measures has a progressive impact and the benefit to the bottom three deciles is driven by the significant social protection package, with higher income deciles benefitting proportionately more from tax measures. Budget 2025 builds on previous budgets that have also had a very positive effect. The 2023 survey on income and living conditions saw a reduction in consistent poverty. It is down from 4.9% in SILC 2022 to 3.6% in 2023. It is reducing.

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