Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept the amendment. An unacceptable number of children remain in consistent poverty and the Government remains focused on further substantially reducing child poverty. The level of commitment in this area was particularly prominent in the 2008 budget in which was announced a range of targeted measures and supports, costing more than €147 million in a full year, specifically to benefit children in low income families and families on welfare.

In the context of the overall review of targeted child income support payments, the National Economic and Social Council was asked by the Department of the Taoiseach to examine the feasibility of merging the family income supplement with child dependant allowance, and possibly including other child supports such as the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, resulting in a single second tier child income support. Such a payment would be aimed specifically at targeting child poverty by channelling resources to low income families without creating significant disincentives to employment.

The commitment to examining such a change was subsequently embodied in the partnership agreement, Towards 2016, which committed to completing consideration of the issues within one year. That examination was recently completed by Dr. John Sweeney and the outcome will be made available in a discussion document following consultation with the Department of the Taoiseach.