Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

393. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the targets he is working towards for reducing child poverty and the specific steps he is taking to achieve these targets [45778/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020,was published and launched by Government in 2014. It provides the overarching framework for the development and implementation of policy and services for children and young people. This is a whole of government framework, implementation of which is overseen by my Department.

Better Outcomes, Brighter Futuresset out a target of lifting over 70,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020, a reduction of at least two-thirds on the 2011 level. The Department of Social Protection have the lead role in coordinating government strategies on child poverty and are the Sponsor of outcome 4 of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures- economic security and opportunity. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. Its work is also informed by the European Commission Recommendation on ‘Investing in children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage’. The Department of Social Protection have identified child poverty as a key cross-sectoral priority to be addressed in 2015 and 2016 under the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures structures.

To assist in this, the Advisory Council for Better Outcomes, Brighter Future,which brings together key members of the community and voluntary sectors who work with and for children and young people, and the Department of Social Protection have co-convened a subgroup with officials from my Department and other relevant Departments to progress solutions to the issue of child poverty. This group has held two meetings in September and November 2015, and two more are planned for the near future.

Although the level of consistent poverty among children has fallen slightly from 11.7% to 11.2% between 2013 and 2014, the Government acknowledges the challenge in successfully achieving the child poverty target, but remains committed to meeting it. The timescale for achieving the target will be influenced by the pace of economic and employment growth. However, we believe having an ambitious target and actively monitoring this will provide a roadmap towards which we can develop and implement a strong multi-dimensional policy response.

As part of this multi-dimensional approach and the importance accorded to the development of effective and quality focused services and support for children and young people, my Department in collaboration with the DSP will hold an EU Peer Review in February 2016 to explore innovative responses in prevention and early intervention policy and provision to address child poverty and disadvantage. This event will involve ten Member States and the European Commission.

My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Social Protection supporting this mutli-dimensional approach to child poverty. There are also a number of areas of focus that support our response to child poverty within my Department. My Department invests €260 million annually on early childhood care and education and after-school support programmes which provide care to 100,000 children. A number of these programmes are targeted at those on lowest incomes. In addition in early 2015, I established an Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and After-School Care and Education. The work of the group was focused on identifying policy objectives to guide future investment in this area. This report was published in July 2015 and informed the estimates process for Budget 2016. Budget 2016 provides for an additional €85 million investment in 2016.

My Department is also leading the implementation of the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013-2017). The ABC Programme is co-funded by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies and will have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million. The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme aims to improve the outcomes for children, young people and existing service by drawing on best international practice to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched. It is overseen by an inter-departmental project team.

My Department also provides targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through a range of schemes totalling €49.93m of funding. The purpose of recently published National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020is to enable all young people aged 10 to 24 to realise their maximum potential with regard to the five national outcomes in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.It is a universal strategy for all young people. It has a particular focus on the needs of young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing the poorest outcomes.

Finally, as part of my Department's response, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is also responsible for the delivery of a range of services focusing on the welfare, protection and support for children, young people and their families which are key to supporting outcomes which assist in actively mitigating the impact of child poverty.