Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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204. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions she is taking to address the increase in consistent poverty and deprivation among young persons aged 15 to 24 years of age as detailed in the social inclusion monitor report published by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44160/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The effects of the economic recession were most severe during the period of time from 2009-2012. The number of young people experiencing consistent poverty rose sharply in these years – reflecting increased youth unemployment, and, more significantly, increased unemployment among the parents of young adults who were mainly still studying and living at home. Some improvement was already visible by 2015; the at-risk-of-poverty rate (before social transfers) and the deprivation rate for young people fell in both 2014 and 2015.

Moreover, the effects of the recovery have become increasingly visible since 2015. Unemployment has fallen from 10.2% at the beginning of 2015 to 6.1% in September of this year. The number of people in receipt of working-age income and employment supports has also continued to fall. Given this continuing economic recovery throughout 2016 and 2017 and the measures introduced in Budgets 2016 and 2017, I expect the poverty and deprivation figures for those years, when they become available, to show significant further improvement over the 2015 out-turn.

I also expect further improvement as the economy continues to recover. My Department continues to implement the Pathways to Work 2016 - 2020 Strategy which focuses on ensuring jobseekers, including young people, can access good quality work, training and education opportunities. It prioritises the activation of the long-term and young unemployed people, with supports provided through the network of Intreo offices. Poverty is strongly linked to unemployment, and as employment increases, we can expect to see decreases in poverty and deprivation.

Recent budgets have been forward looking, allocating limited resources in a prudent way, to make sure that everyone benefits from the recovery. Budget 2018 included an increase of €5 per week for Jobseekers aged under 26 and introduced the Youth Employment Support Scheme which is focused on helping young long-term jobseekers, aged 18 to 24 years, back to work and will be rolled out in 2018. There were also increases in the qualified child rate for children up to the age of 18 years (and up to 22 years for those in school/college) and in the Working Family Payment (formerly known as Family Income Supplement). The Back to Work Family Dividend has also been extended. These will positively impact on the lives of young people, and the households they live in.

The Government’s overall strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. My Department is reviewing the Plan this year, as it reaches the end of its current term, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. The Department will also review the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The 2015 SILC results show that even now we have a long way to go to achieve the national social target for poverty reduction. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the economic recovery is experienced in all regions and by all families, households and individuals.