Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for children here as measured by EUROSTAT in tabular form; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53409/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The most recent EUROSTAT data shows that some 8.9% of children in Ireland were severely materially deprived in 2015, as compared to a EU28 average rate of 9.6% (see Table 1).This is an improvement on 2014 where the rates were 10.1% and 10.4% respectively.Given the continuing economic recovery throughout 2017 and measures introduced in Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018, I expect the severe material deprivation figures for those years, when they become available, to show further improvement. 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.

Budget 2018 introduced a €5 per week increase in the maximum weekly rate for working-age people along with an increase of €2 per week per child for qualified child dependents. Budget 2018 also included an increase of €10 per week in the income thresholds for Family Income Supplement for families with up to three children and an increase of €20 per week in the income disregards for the one-parent family payment and the jobseeker’s transitional payment (bringing it to €130 per week). These increases will assist those families who are most in need.

The Government’s 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 which includes deprivation. The Department is reviewing the Plan, as it reaches the end of its current term this year, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. The Department is also reviewing the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Table 1: Severe Material Deprivation rate for Children 2010 to 2015

Source: EUROSTAT EU-SILC, various years. Extracted 11/12/2017.