Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to introduce a second tier support payment for children in unemployed or low-wage households; if so, the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23096/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in relation to developments within his Department regarding the introduction of a second tier child income payment. [23008/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 126 together.

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.

I look forward to receiving the Council's report on this matter, which will be of significant assistance in informing the future direction of child income support policy.