Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)

The Taoiseach has said that a key issue for him in the budget will be child poverty. I agree with the focus, but his words ring very hollow because we have heard all this before. The previous Government made reducing child poverty a priority. What has happened since? The number of children living in consistent poverty has nearly doubled to more than 100,000 in 2024. That is not a blip. While nearly 5,000 children are now homeless and living in emergency accommodation. That so many children are being failed and left behind at a time when the State coffers are overflowing is utterly shameful. The Government's policy is not just failing vulnerable children and their families in the present. What is it going to do in its term to set out a roadmap to end child poverty?

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