Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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197. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the first- and full-year cost and feasibility of setting up a new departmental team to address child poverty. [31182/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is not proposed to establish a new departmental team to address child poverty in my Department. The One Parent and Child Income Policy Unit and the Social Inclusion Division within my Department, together with the Hot School Meals Team, work in close cooperation on policies and measures to address child poverty.

In addition, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office was established within the Department of the Taoiseach in Spring 2023 to drive cross-government action aimed at improving outcomes for children and families experiencing poverty. My Department works closely with the Child Poverty and Well-being Office on policies and actions to address child poverty including the establishment of the child poverty target and related indicators on child well-being.