Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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42. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to eradicate child poverty. [50210/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Child poverty requires a cross-governmental response and I am committed to supporting the broader Government action to combat child poverty. The Child Poverty and Well-being Office in the Department of the Taoiseach was established in 2023 to coordinate government actions that reduce child poverty and foster children’s well-being, focussed on improvements that have the potential to make a big difference to children living in poverty.

The Government is continuing its efforts to address child poverty and Minister Calleary has recently announced the new Child Poverty Target which is set at 3% or less by the end of 2030.

Child poverty is one of the priorities highlighted in Young Ireland, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People.

This Department is taking a series of impactful actions in this regard across various policy areas including the following:

Early Years: Investment of €1.37 billion in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector and the important role of early learning and childcare in addressing child poverty, including substantial affordability, accessibility and quality building measures.

Equal Start: The extension of Equal Start provides a set of universal and targeted measures to support access to, and full participation in, early learning and childcare for children and their families who experience disadvantage. Children to benefit from child-targeted supports include children living in disadvantaged areas, Traveller children, Roma children, children availing of the National Childcare Scheme through a sponsor body, children experiencing homelessness and children in the International Protection system.

Bia Blasta: In August, I launched Bia Blasta – the Preschool Nutrition Programme. This will support the replacement of the lunch box from home with the provision of a light nutritious meal to preschool children in services that are providing the ECCE programme with the highest concentrations of disadvantage in the country. The Bia Blasta programme once rolled out will be the first time that dedicated funding is available for up to 25,000 children who attend the 3-hour free preschool programme.

Local Area Child Poverty Action Plan pilots: Four two-year Local Area Child Poverty Action Plan pilots aim to explore innovative ways to address the challenges of child poverty at a local level. They intend to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children, young people, and their families by first looking at particular issues in their local areas and then using this information to improve how services work together.

Home Support: Up to €10 million is being allocated over the period 2024-2028 to expand home visiting services in Ireland, specifically to support the establishment of a new National Home Visiting Programme within Tusla. Home visiting services provide support and guidance to expecting parents and parents of babies and young children. The aim of the programme is to coordinate, provide direction and collect evidence and data to inform the future development of a sustainable national home visiting service.

Foster Care: Significant increase in investment in foster care supports, including a 21% increase to the rates of the foster care allowance, have been made in 2025. An Initial Placement Payment at the beginning of each initial foster care placement from 2025 is also provided, along with additional mileage support for foster carers who have significant travel responsibilities for children in their care.

Unaccompanied Minors: Tusla’s Separated Children Seeking International Protection Service offers an urgent response to the presenting needs of Unaccompanied Minors who arrive in the jurisdiction unaccompanied by parents or caregivers (both Ukrainian and International protection), seeing a 500% increase in the arrival of Unaccompanied Minors since 2022. Additional funding provided in 2025 supports Tusla in meeting increased demand for supports and accommodation.

Play and Recreation: Dedicated funding schemes support and promote play and recreation opportunities for children. These include the annual National Play Day Fund and the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation which provide funding to Local Authorities to refurbish existing or develop new facilities which are safe and accessible to all children, available for use when children are free to use them and reflect consultation with local children. I recently announced Dormant Accounts funding to target the unmet play needs of teenagers, who are recognised as an underserved cohort in relation to public facilities.