Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to address the fact that the level of child poverty rose here during the recession from 18% to 28.6% between the years 2008 and 2012, according to a UNICEF report, a net increase of more than 130,000 children; his further plans to ensure the well-being of children is one of the Government's priorities in the remainder of its lifespan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43992/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am seeking to establish what has been done to address the fact that the level of child poverty in Ireland has increased significantly in recent years, as confirmed in the recently published UNICEF report.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports are available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the national action plan for social inclusion, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020, which was published and launched by the Government in 2014. The plan provides the overarching framework for the development and implementation of policy and services for children and young people. As provided for in the framework, the Department of Social Protection, the lead Department on the issue of child poverty, has lead responsibility for a specific commitment to a national child-specific social target to lift over 70,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020, a reduction of at least two thirds on the 2011 level.

My Department is working on a number of initiatives which are relevant in addressing issues related to child poverty. For example, it is leading the implementation of the area-based childhood programme 2013-16 which is being co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and will have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million. The programme draws on best international practice to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched and improve the outcomes for children, young people and existing services.

My Department is spending €260 million annually on child care support programmes which provide child care for 100,000 children. A number of these programmes are targeted at those on lowest incomes. The child care subvention programme provides subvention support for parents on low incomes and parents in receipt of certain social welfare payments whose children are enrolled in community child care facilities. Additionally, the three training and employment child care programmes - the child care education and training programme, the community employment child care programme and the after school child care programme - provide child care supports for eligible parents returning to work or education.

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My Department also provides funding for targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at-risk young people through three schemes. The three programmes are the special projects for youth scheme; the young people's facilities and services fund; and the local drugs task force projects. In addition, national and regional youth work organisations are supported under my Department's youth service grants scheme. In 2014 current funding of €49.78 million has been provided for my Department for these schemes. I am pleased to advise that budget 2015 has confirmed that funding of €49.78 million will again be provided for my Department in 2015 to support the provision of youth services. There will be no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which is a key priority for youth organisations.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister accept that addressing child poverty is a cross-departmental responsibility? Will he also accept that children living in poverty are statistically more likely to become adults living in poverty and will rear their children in poverty, thus continuing the inter-generational cycle of disadvantage and marginalisation? If we do not address the issue comprehensively and across all Departments, many children will continue that cycle.

The Minister has indicated his intentions and the steps taken by his Department. He also cited the Department of Social Protection. How can we accept these intentions against the backdrop of severe cuts in family incomes and supports, including child benefit? How can we accept them when we see the failure to address the outrageous reality in primary schools where the pupil-teacher ratio is a scandal? How can we accept them when the most unwell children have been left without medical card cover and, as a consequence, without key supports? There is the example in his Department of so many children, to the point of thousands, being categorised as being at risk and yet who do not have designated social workers. It is not just about money in pockets, although that is hugely important, there are many other ways through which child poverty must be addressed. Will the Minister ensure there will be a cross-departmental approach in addressing this major issue for all of us?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The issue of inter-generational poverty is a source of serious concern for the Government and my Department, in particular. The Deputy is correct that it is not just about money. My Department also provides funding for supports targeted at disadvantaged, marginalised and at-risk young people through the three schemes to which I referred. There are other programmes such as the special projects for youth scheme, the young people's facilities and services fund and the local drugs task force projects. In addition, national and regional youth work organisations are supported under my Department's youth service grants scheme. In 2014 current funding of €49.78 million has been provided by my Department for these schemes. I am pleased to advise that budget 2015 has confirmed that this funding of €49.78 million will not be reduced and that the same sum will be available in 2015. The Deputy's point is well made. I express my gratitude to the fantastic volunteers who work with young people, the tens of thousands of youth volunteers who support youth work in the community. The money we spend is money well spent in that it provides significant gains for communities and society.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister to consider and engage with his Cabinet colleagues on the establishment of a cross-departmental task force to address the issue of child poverty. I do not believe this is something which should be baulked at or regarded as almost unnecessary. We have to look at the facts as designated in the UNICEF report. I refer to Ireland's statistical position across the 41 countries surveyed, which include both OECD and European Union member democracies. Ireland is listed at No. 37, with only Croatia, Latvia, Greece and Iceland recording worse levels of child poverty. This is particularly attributable to the period 2008 to 2012 cited in the report. During the same period 18 of the countries surveyed actually recorded a reduction in child poverty. They included Chile, Australia and Poland which recorded a reduction of 7.9%. We are not getting it right. I know that it is not only the Minister's responsibility and I am not targeting him in that respect. However, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, he should be the lead Minister and head of the lead Department. I ask for his view of the proposition that a cross-departmental task force be established. I have instanced the different issues that can impact on the reality of life for a child which can be the reality of life for him or her throughout his or her lifetime. Therefore, I urge the Minister to consider that proposition.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I wish to highlight a number of things. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is unique in the manner in which it interacts with all other Departments regarding child and youth issues. Officials from the Departments of Justice and Equality, Health, and Education and Skills are permanently seconded to us. I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that education is a major factor in helping people get out of the cycle of poverty. People who stay in education have better outcomes in terms of employment and income.

The Government's support for children and families amounts to €2.3 billion in 2014. This investment has had the effect of reducing the rate of risk of poverty among children from 45% to 19%, a reduction of 59%. This is among the best performances in reducing child poverty in the EU. As well as additional expenditure, budget 2015 committed to investing an additional €96 million in children's services. The UNICEF report relates to 2008 to 2012. These things have happened and much progress has been made, but by no means enough. I fully concur with the Deputy on the need for great co-operation across our Departments, which we have. We regularly meet people from the Department of Social Protection to discuss this.

The best way to tackle child poverty is to get people back to work. Children do not exist on their own; they exist in families. If their families can improve their situation by having a job and a steady income coming into the family home, that is the way forward. We have created 70,000 jobs since 2012. I do not want to turn this into any sort of political broadcast, but it is our intention to continue to focus on the area of better outcomes for our children.