Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she and her Department have examined or intend to examine the most effective method to address issues faced by children in families that are disadvantaged socially or economically; the extent to which she has examined or intends to examine the most likely effective measures that need to be taken in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20047/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Tackling economic and social disadvantage is a priority for Government and the Government programme sets out a range of measures to achieve sustainable economic growth, increase employment and protect the most vulnerable in society. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, improving children's outcomes is a key objective. Studies undertaken by my Department, such as the longitudinal study of children in Ireland and the biennial State of the Nation's Children analysis have an important contribution to make to our understanding of the issues that impact on children's lives.

This ongoing research and the evaluation results of pilot projects to enhance children's development, such as those that are underway in Tallaght, Northside and Ballymun, jointly funded by my Department with a philanthropic organisation, will shape the formulation of appropriate policy responses and services for children. My Department works closely with other Departments and agencies with shared objectives to better understand the issues that impact on children and families. The Department is represented on the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare established by the Minister for Social Protection to examine issues to do with the interactions of the tax and welfare systems so that they provide good incentives for parents to take up and remain in work and thereby contribute to the reduction of poverty and child poverty, in particular.

My priority, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, is to enhance the role of early intervention and support programmes for the most vulnerable children and their families. Early childhood care and education programmes, in particular those that are aimed at low income families, are important services to achieve this aim and are underpinned by solid evidence as to their effectiveness in enhancing children's opportunities for social and educational development and supporting parents. The network of 107 family resource centres and other services that are funded by the Family Support Agency, under the remit of my Department, also have a role in this regard.