Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

25. To ask the Taoiseach the progress made by his Department in reducing child poverty and promoting well-being. [7636/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are retaining the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach because we know we need to continue to build on the work to break down silos between departments and drive delivery.

We will not be able to make a decisive impact on child poverty without a whole of government and whole of society response.

From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023-2025 was published in August 2023 and is the initial Programme Plan for the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office.

The Programme builds on six focus areas which have the potential to bring about significant change for families and children.

These are:

1. Income assistance and joblessness;

2. Early learning and childcare;

3. Reducing the cost of education;

4. Family homelessness;

5. Consolidating and integrating family and parental assistance, health and well-being;

6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty.

The Programme Plan is intended to be a living and dynamic document. As we need to, we revisit our priorities to make sure we are focusing on those things that will really make a difference.

In 2025, we will start to develop the second Programme Plan for the Office and will consider carefully what we have learned so far and what remains to be done.

The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus government action.

To help facilitate this, the Office has established a Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Well-being. The Network has met five times to date, with the next meeting due to take place soon.

On 23rd May last year, the Programme Office hosted the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-Being Summit. This was an important moment to take stock and shape the agenda for future action. I am very much looking forward to hosting the second Summit later in the year.

Budget 2025 is the second year spending plans on child poverty and well-being were coordinated through the Programme Office. The second Budget Report captures a wide range of initiatives in Budget 2025 which reflect the cross-government ambition to reduce child poverty.

I was delighted to recently publish the Programme Office’s first Progress Report, Child Poverty and Well-being in Transition: Learning and Adapting to Accelerate Change in Children’s Lives. The report presents progress updates for the six focus areas while acknowledging challenges and highlighting emerging lessons and priorities.

The impact of the Programme Office is also outlined. I am encouraged that the report shows the Programme Office has genuinely strengthened cross-government focus on addressing child poverty.

In the years ahead, I expect the Programme Office to report on even greater progress—progress that will transform the lives of children and families.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

28. To ask the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty and well-being programme in his Department. [9487/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are retaining the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach because we know we need to continue to build on the work to break down silos between departments and drive delivery.

We will not be able to make a decisive impact on child poverty without a whole of government and whole of society response.

From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023-2025 was published in August 2023 and is the initial Programme Plan for the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office.

The Programme builds on six focus areas which have the potential to bring about significant change for families and children.

These are:

1. Income assistance and joblessness;

2. Early learning and childcare;

3. Reducing the cost of education;

4. Family homelessness;

5. Consolidating and integrating family and parental assistance, health and well-being;

6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty.

The Programme Plan is intended to be a living and dynamic document. As we need to, we revisit our priorities to make sure we are focusing on those things that will really make a difference.

In 2025, we will start to develop the second Programme Plan for the Office and will consider carefully what we have learned so far and what remains to be done.

The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus government action.

To help facilitate this, the Office has established a Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Well-being. The Network has met five times to date, with the next meeting due to take place soon.

On 23rd May last year, the Programme Office hosted the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-Being Summit. This was an important moment to take stock and shape the agenda for future action. I am very much looking forward to hosting the second Summit later in the year.

Budget 2025 is the second year spending plans on child poverty and well-being were coordinated through the Programme Office. The second Budget Report captures a wide range of initiatives in Budget 2025 which reflect the cross-government ambition to reduce child poverty.

I was delighted to recently publish the Programme Office’s first Progress Report, Child Poverty and Well-being in Transition: Learning and Adapting to Accelerate Change in Children’s Lives. The report presents progress updates for the six focus areas while acknowledging challenges and highlighting emerging lessons and priorities.

The impact of the Programme Office is also outlined. I am encouraged that the report shows the Programme Office has genuinely strengthened cross-government focus on addressing child poverty.

In the years ahead, I expect the Programme Office to report on even greater progress—progress that will transform the lives of children and families.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

29. To ask the Taoiseach the progress made by his Department in reducing child poverty and promoting well-being. [10821/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are retaining the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach because we know we need to continue to build on the work to break down silos between departments and drive delivery.

We will not be able to make a decisive impact on child poverty without a whole of government and whole of society response.

From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023-2025 was published in August 2023 and is the initial Programme Plan for the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office.

The Programme builds on six focus areas which have the potential to bring about significant change for families and children.

These are:

1. Income assistance and joblessness;

2. Early learning and childcare;

3. Reducing the cost of education;

4. Family homelessness;

5. Consolidating and integrating family and parental assistance, health and well-being;

6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty.

The Programme Plan is intended to be a living and dynamic document. As we need to, we revisit our priorities to make sure we are focusing on those things that will really make a difference.

In 2025, we will start to develop the second Programme Plan for the Office and will consider carefully what we have learned so far and what remains to be done.

The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus government action.

To help facilitate this, the Office has established a Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Well-being. The Network has met five times to date, with the next meeting due to take place soon.

On 23rd May last year, the Programme Office hosted the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-Being Summit. This was an important moment to take stock and shape the agenda for future action. I am very much looking forward to hosting the second Summit later in the year.

Budget 2025 is the second year spending plans on child poverty and well-being were coordinated through the Programme Office. The second Budget Report captures a wide range of initiatives in Budget 2025 which reflect the cross-government ambition to reduce child poverty.

I was delighted to recently publish the Programme Office’s first Progress Report, Child Poverty and Well-being in Transition: Learning and Adapting to Accelerate Change in Children’s Lives. The report presents progress updates for the six focus areas while acknowledging challenges and highlighting emerging lessons and priorities.

The impact of the Programme Office is also outlined. I am encouraged that the report shows the Programme Office has genuinely strengthened cross-government focus on addressing child poverty.

In the years ahead, I expect the Programme Office to report on even greater progress—progress that will transform the lives of children and families.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

30. To ask the Taoiseach for an update in respect of the programme plan for child well-being. [12275/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are retaining the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach because we know we need to continue to build on the work to break down silos between departments and drive delivery.

We will not be able to make a decisive impact on child poverty without a whole of government and whole of society response.

From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023-2025 was published in August 2023 and is the initial Programme Plan for the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office.

The Programme builds on six focus areas which have the potential to bring about significant change for families and children.

These are:

1. Income assistance and joblessness;

2. Early learning and childcare;

3. Reducing the cost of education;

4. Family homelessness;

5. Consolidating and integrating family and parental assistance, health and well-being;

6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty.

The Programme Plan is intended to be a living and dynamic document. As we need to, we revisit our priorities to make sure we are focusing on those things that will really make a difference.

In 2025, we will start to develop the second Programme Plan for the Office and will consider carefully what we have learned so far and what remains to be done.

The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus government action.

To help facilitate this, the Office has established a Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Well-being. The Network has met five times to date, with the next meeting due to take place soon.

On 23rd May last year, the Programme Office hosted the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-Being Summit. This was an important moment to take stock and shape the agenda for future action. I am very much looking forward to hosting the second Summit later in the year.

Budget 2025 is the second year spending plans on child poverty and well-being were coordinated through the Programme Office. The second Budget Report captures a wide range of initiatives in Budget 2025 which reflect the cross-government ambition to reduce child poverty.

I was delighted to recently publish the Programme Office’s first Progress Report, Child Poverty and Well-being in Transition: Learning and Adapting to Accelerate Change in Children’s Lives. The report presents progress updates for the six focus areas while acknowledging challenges and highlighting emerging lessons and priorities.

The impact of the Programme Office is also outlined. I am encouraged that the report shows the Programme Office has genuinely strengthened cross-government focus on addressing child poverty.

In the years ahead, I expect the Programme Office to report on even greater progress—progress that will transform the lives of children and families.