Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the new child poverty target will be set; the future process to establish that new figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8524/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is the national strategy for poverty reduction and improved social inclusion. It includes the goal of reducing child poverty in Ireland and ensuring that all families have the opportunity to participate fully in society.

The current rate of consistent poverty for children (aged 0-17) from the 2023 Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) is 4.8%, which is down from 7.0% in 2022 and represents the lowest rate of consistent poverty for children since the SILC survey commenced.

My Department undertook a public consultation on setting a new child poverty target following a commitment contained in the mid-term review of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion. Following a review of these submissions and taking into consideration the latest SILC data, draft proposals for a new national child poverty target have been developed by my officials and are now the basis for discussion with other Departments. I therefore expect that a proposal for a new national child poverty target will shortly be submitted to me for my consideration.

The development of a new national child poverty target will feed into the wider whole of Government approach to address child poverty. While income supports are important, access to affordable and available services (housing, health, childcare, education etc.) plays an equally strong and potentially more sustainable role in addressing child poverty.