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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together.

We are retaining the child poverty and well-being programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach because we know we need to continue to build on the work to break down silos between Departments and drive delivery. We will not be able to make a decisive impact on child poverty without a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.

From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023 to 2025 was published in August 2023 and is the initial programme plan for the child poverty and well-being programme office. The programme builds on six focus areas which have potential to bring about significant change for families and children. These are income assistance and joblessness; early learning and childcare; reducing the cost of education; family homelessness; consolidating and integrating family and parental assistance, health and well-being; and enhancing participation in culture, the arts and support for children and young people affected by poverty. The programme plan is intended to be a living and dynamic document. As we need to, we will revisit our priorities to make sure we are focusing on those things that really make a difference. In 2025 we will start to develop the second programme plan for the office. We will consider carefully what we have learned so far and what remains to be done.

The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus Government action. To help to facilitate this the office has established a cross-government network on child poverty and well-being. The network has met five times to date with the next meeting due to take place soon.

On 23 May last year the programme office hosted the inaugural child poverty and well-being summit. This was an important moment to take stock and shape the agenda for future action. I very much look forward to hosting the second summit later in the year. Budget 2025 is the second year of spending plans on child poverty and well-being co-ordinated through the programme office. The second budget report captures a wide range of initiatives in budget 2025 which reflect the cross-government ambition to reduce child poverty.

I was delighted recently to publish the programme office's first progress report, Child Poverty and Well-being in Transition: Learning and Adapting to Accelerate Change in Children's Lives. The report presents progress updates for the six focus areas while acknowledging challenges and highlighting emerging lessons and priorities. The impact of the programme office is also outlined.

I am encouraged that the report shows the programme office has genuinely strengthened cross-government focus on addressing child poverty. In the years ahead, I expect the programme office to report on even greater progress that would help to transform the lives of children and families.

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