Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans regarding the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion and in particular the high level goals in relation to welfare support for children. [35625/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Combating poverty and building an inclusive society are key priorities for the Government. The overall goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPinclusion) introduced in February 2007 is to reduce the number of those experiencing consistent poverty to between 2 % and 4 % by 2012, with the aim of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016. These commitments and the social inclusion commitments in the National Development Plan have wide-ranging support, having been drawn up in consultation with the social partners and other stakeholders.

One of the twelve high level goals, set out in the Plan, focuses on achieving significant real increases in income supports for children; three others address education initiatives. In addition, 42 of the 150 detailed targets in the Plan cover services such as health, education, income support and early childhood development and care to tackle poverty in families and ensure that children reach their true potential.

Significant progress has been achieved in reducing child poverty in Ireland over the past decade and the Government is determined to continue this work, in spite of current economic difficulties. Last week's Budget provided for a range of measures costing over €56 million to benefit children and families. These measures include, an increase of €2 in the qualified child increase payable with social welfare payments bringing the rate up to €26 per week from January 2009; an increase of €10 per week per child in all Family Income Supplement income thresholds giving an increase of up to €6 per child per week, from January 2009; and an increase of €50 per week in the income threshold for the back to school clothing and footwear scheme to enable more families to qualify. These increases will mean that the high level goal of maintaining the combined value of child income support measures at 33% to 35% of the minimum adult social welfare payment rate will continue to be met next year (ranging between 42 and 46%).

In framing Budget 2009, the Government has prioritised delivering real increases in social welfare payments to ensure that, in line with the NAPinclusion, the most vulnerable groups in our society are protected. Increases of between 3 % and 3.8 % in the basic payment rates have been provided for next year, ahead of the projected rate of inflation for 2009, which is 2.5%.