Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on his Department's efforts to tackle child poverty in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39014/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am committed to supporting the broader Government action to combat child poverty. My Department is taking a series of actions in this regard.

Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.

In 2025, my Department’s funding for the early learning and childcare sector will rise to €1.37 billion , a further investment of €266m, or 24% increase on last year’s funding. This includes substantial affordability, accessibility and quality building measures. It includes the further extension of Equal Start provides a set of universal and targeted measures to support access to, and full participation in, early learning and childcare for children and their families who experience disadvantage.

It also includes unprecedented levels of investment in affordability measures through the National Childcare Scheme which will see investment of 530m in 2025 and the recently extended Access and Inclusion Model which will reach 81m in 2025.Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028, was published in November 2023. Child poverty is one of Young Ireland’s current Spotlights, and my Department is working with the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach to establish robust governance structures to ensure progress is made on the key areas.

Ireland’s National Action Plan under the European Child Guarantee commits to establish four pilot Child Poverty Local Area Action Child Poverty Action Plans in Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) areas. In 2024, my Department is providing €378,000 under What Works (funded by Dormant Accounts) to four Children and Young People’s Services Committees working in collaboration with their corresponding Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) to research and pilot Local Area Child Poverty Action Plans.

My Department's UBU Your Place Your Space youth funding scheme seeks to provide out-of-school supports to marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people to overcome significant challenges and achieve their potential. In 2024, over €47m was allocated to UBU funded organisations.