Written answers
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Child Poverty
John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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591. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline the child poverty rate according to the survey on income and living conditions for each year 2005 to 2025, in tabular form; if he will further outline progress on reaching the current child poverty target of 2.8%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37532/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the rate of consistent child poverty from 2005 to 2024 is set out in tabular form below:
Consistent poverty (0-17 years)*
| SILC 2004-2019 | |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 9.2% |
| 2005 | 10.8% |
| 2006 | 10.5% |
| 2007 | 7.4% |
| 2008 | 6.2% |
| 2009 | 8.7% |
| 2010 | 8.8% |
| 2011 | 9.3% |
| 2012 | 10.4% |
| 2013 | 12.7% |
| 2014 | 12.0% |
| 2015 | 10.9% |
| 2016 | 10.9% |
| 2017 | 8.8% |
| 2018 | 7.7% |
| 2019 | 8.1% |
| SILC 2020-2024 | |
| 2020 | 6.7% |
| 2021 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 8.5% |
Childhood poverty is a complex, multidimensional issue and the Government is committed to reducing child poverty and is keenly aware of the welfare issues affecting children, particularly in relation to child poverty.
The publication of Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2024 figures in March 2025 by the CSO, showed an increase in consistent child poverty, from 4.8% in SILC 2023 to 8.5% in SILC 2024.
While these figures are disappointing, it should be noted the latest SILC figures do not take account of any Budget 2024, Budget 2025 or the wide range of cost of living measures that were paid in 2024. Neither do they take account of a range of other measures such as free school books, free hot school meals or increased investment in childcare provision.
The previous national child poverty target was not 2.8% rather it was contained in “Better Outcomes Brighter Futures” and aimed to reduce the number of children in consistent poverty by at least two-thirds from 2011 levels, lifting 70,000 children out of poverty by 2020.
The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, contains a commitment to set a new child poverty target and examine ways to lift more children out of poverty.
The Government is determined to see a reduction in child poverty in the coming years. A new child poverty target will be set in the coming months, together with a series of related indicators on child well-bring.
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