Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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270. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures undertaken to prevent and alleviate poverty during childhood; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48705/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Government's Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 goal is to reduce child poverty in Ireland and to ensure that all families have the opportunity to participate fully in society. It recognises the importance of child related services working in conjunction with income supports in reducing child poverty.

The most recent data shows the consistent poverty rate for children is 8.1%. While this is a reduction on previous years, it demonstrates that Government needs to continue to focus efforts on reducing the number of children experiencing poverty.

Government through the Department of Social Protection offers a range of supports to children and families to alleviate poverty and has consistently targeted supports on reducing the number of children in poverty and deprivation. Since Budget 2019, Government has increased the qualified child payment from a flat rate of €31.80 to €38 for children up to age 12, and €45 for children aged over 12. During the same period, Government increased the income thresholds of the Working Family Payment by €20 per week for families with up to 3 children; removed the earnings limit on the One-Parent Family Payment; and increased the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by €25. This has occurred alongside measures under the Department’s remit to support children and families, such as the extension of the Parent’s Benefit; the provision of the School Meals programme; and the development and rollout of the Hot School Meals Programme.

The above-mentioned supports are accompanied by a range of measures delivered across government, including:

- prevention and early intervention initiatives and supports for parents through the work of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, including implementation of the First 5 Strategy.

- the rollout of free GP care to children and the provision of medical cards to families on low incomes under the Department of Health.

- the continuing delivery of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme by the Department of Education.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.