Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

45. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce the number of children living in poverty or at risk of poverty. [25728/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Consistent poverty which is defined as a combination of at-risk-of-poverty (where household income is below the 60% equivalised national median income threshold) and basic deprivation (an enforced lack of 2 or more items of an 11 item list of basic goods and services) is the official Irish measure used to quantify the proportion of the population living in poverty. As measured by the CSO in its annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), the consistent poverty rate in 2011 for children (0-17 years) was 9.3 per cent, compared with 6.8 per cent for the adult population (18-64 years). In relative terms, children are therefore over one and half times more likely to be in consistent poverty than adults.

Government policy in relation to both income supports, improving employment prospects for parents and improved delivery of public service are important factors in improving child poverty outcomes. For instance, the poverty reduction effect of social transfers demonstrates that the social protection system is relatively effective at reducing the number of children in poverty. From 2004 to 2010, the poverty reduction effect of social transfers for children’s at-risk-of-poverty rate increased from 43 per cent to 62 per cent. This reflects the impact of improved transfers and parental employment during the earlier part of this period.

Reducing and ultimately eliminating poverty is a fundamental aspiration of Irish society. In this context, the national social target for poverty reduction provides a key reference point for Government policies and offers a tangible benchmark against which to measure social and economic progress. Following a review of the target which was published in 2012, the Government agreed to set a new sub-target for the reduction of child poverty following consultation with relevant stakeholders. This is in recognition of the life-long consequences of child poverty and the damaging effects of inter-generational poverty.

A sub-target for child poverty reduction will recognise that a multi-dimensional approach is needed to meet existing commitments and to take into account the importance of income supports, services and parental access to employment. For instance, children in jobless households are far more likely to experience consistent poverty than children generally. The overriding objective for the Government is to increase employment, promote activation, skills training and education. This will ultimately help to build real and sustainable economic growth and to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society.

The Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in relation to these issues. As the Deputy may be aware, my colleague Minister Frances Fitzgerald T.D. is overseeing the new Children and Young People's Policy Framework through which policy and services for children and young people will be developed and implemented in the State. She is also overseeing on-going work on implementing a new area-based approach to child poverty, building on evidence and experiences in prevention and early intervention programmes.