David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress on the introduction of the second-tier payment to help target poverty in low-income families and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17837/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Child poverty is a complex area requiring coordinated action across a range of government services and income support payments. The development of income supports which can make the most effective contribution to child poverty lies within my Department's responsibilities and a series of budgets have increased considerably in real terms the level of resources which are going to families with children.

While the solutions to the problem of child poverty cover a wide range of measures, including income supports and services, I am committed to reviewing the role of child income supports in this regard. The National Economic and Social Council was asked to examine the feasibility of merging the family income supplement and child dependant allowance into a 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 NESC is currently considering its draft report and I look forward to receiving a finalised report which will be of significant assistance in informing the future direction of child income support policy. I am determined to advance this issue in the coming months.