Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Taoiseach if he will outline the membership of the child poverty unit within his Department; and if he will provide an update on its work. [29099/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office was established in Spring 2023 to prioritise action across government in areas that will have the greatest impact for children and families experiencing poverty.

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 and,

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.

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 six times to date, with the most recent meeting taking place on the 13th of May.

The First Progress Report of the Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office was published earlier this year. The report describes progress updates for the six focus areas while acknowledging challenges and highlighting emerging lessons and priorities. The report is available on gov.ie.

On 23rd May last year, the Programme Office hosted the inaugural Child Poverty and Well-Being Summit. This was a pivotal 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.

The staffing allocation to the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Programme Office at the Department of the Taoiseach as of the

31st May 2025 is one Principal Officer, two Assistant Principal Officers, two Administrative Officers and one Executive Officer.