Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing last met; when it will meet next. [58247/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Cabinet Committee on Housing works to ensure a coordinated, cross Government, approach to the implementation of Programme for Government commitments regarding housing policy.

The Programme for Government sets out our ambition to accelerate housing supply, building on progress already achieved, recognising housing as a major social and economic challenge.

Building on the measures already taken, Government is now in the process of finalising a new National Housing Plan. The new Plan will build on our success under Housing for All and achieve further momentum across all aspects of housing delivery over the lifetime of this Government.

The last meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Housing took place on Thursday, 9th October. The Committee is due to meet again on 10th November

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education last met; when it will meet next. [58248/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Cabinet Committee on Children and Education oversees the implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education.

It receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being and education.

The membership of the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education comprises the:

• Taoiseach,

• Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence,

• Minister for Finance,

• Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation,

• Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality,

• Minister for Health,

• Minister for Social Protection,

• Minister for Education and Youth,

• Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Programme for Government contains many important commitments intended to improve the lives of all children, and especially those children who need our help most. These commitments include:

• Setting an ambitious child poverty target.

• Progressively increasing the Child Support Payment.

• Expanding eligibility for the Fuel Allowance to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment.

• Exploring a targeted Child Benefit payment.

The Government’s vision for education is to deliver a world class education system which breaks down barriers and ensures every child can achieve their full potential. That is why we remain committed to building on the work of the DEIS programme which since 2006 has been operating to tackle educational disadvantage.

The Cabinet Committee meets quarterly and met for the second time in September. The Cabinet Committee will meet again in the coming period.