Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Ultimately, it is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is also important to reflect on the fact that the Government, since we came to office, established the child poverty and well-being programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach and is at the heart of the Government, with cross-departmental responsibilities. The office is currently working on a dashboard which will enable us all to measure progress. Rather than the siloed way of doing things, the dashboard will be able to show us where we are making progress but, most importantly, where we are not achieving things, and then we will definitely be able to get a focus.

I have spoken about the new child poverty target. We are now looking at targeted increases in supports, such as the child support payment and the working family payment, to go directly to families on low incomes, thus supporting children. We continue to expand the hot school meals programme. By the end of this year every primary school in the country will have access to the programme. There is expansion of the national childcare scheme and the free schoolbooks scheme. It is absolutely not enough. The Taoiseach keeps all of our feet to the fire in respect of child poverty. We want to reach the target of 3% by the end of our term of office but, more importantly, 3% or less.