Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has read the report by an organisation (details supplied) that 100,000 children in Ireland are going to bed hungry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40779/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Food poverty is defined as the inability to access a nutritionally adequate diet which is a significant issue for many people in Ireland. Child poverty brings together many issues that families in Ireland are facing everyday including unemployment and income poverty, homelessness, educational disadvantage and food poverty.

I am acutely aware that COVID-19 has adversely impacted the lives of children, young people and families across the country. The Irish Youth Foundation’s ‘Generation Pandemic’ campaign identifies some of the emerging issues in the areas of education, health and wellbeing and skills and employability for young people during this pandemic.

The Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (BOBF) National Advisory Council engaged with my Department and the Department of Social Protection prior to the summer months to advocate for the continuation of the School Meals Programme run in schools. The programme is a collaboration between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education providing school meals in DEIS schools. This was due to end in line with schools closing for the summer but both Department’s agreed on its continuation during the summer period which I know has helped many families in communities across Ireland.

The Programme for Government commits to publish and implement a successor to BOBF. Continuing to address Child Poverty will be a key component of this new Strategy. The Programme also commits to implementing the current First 5 Early Years Strategy for babies, young children and their families which outlines a number of poverty prevention measures. The First Five Strategy highlights the need to identify and scope the issue of food poverty as a cross-sectoral priority under BOBF, and in alignment with overall Healthy Ireland implementation, led by the Department of Health.

The Research and Evaluation Unit in my Department have established a Child Specific Poverty Research Programme. Several pieces of work have been undertaken to help deepen our understanding of child poverty and disadvantage. The findings of this research have recently been published and more research is underway. My Department will also be drawing on emerging data in relation to the impacts of COVID-19 on children, young people and families which will inform our new children and young people’s strategy.

BOBF will be concluded at the end of 2020 and my Department will commence work on a successor to BOBF early in 2021. The aim of the new Strategy will be to identify key priorities that need a whole of Government approach to tackling issues such as child poverty, homelessness and food poverty.

My Department will engage with all stakeholders during the development process for the new Strategy which will include engaging with the Department of Health in relation to food poverty.