William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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479. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures the Government is taking to reduce child poverty in rural areas, such as County Laois, where deprivation may be underreported; the way in which Tusla and the Ombudsman monitor whether interventions are achieving long-term reductions in child poverty rather than providing only short-term relief; the guarantees that can be given that children in smaller counties receive equitable support compared to urban centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29254/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to addressing child poverty across all of Ireland, in both rural and urban areas. No child should be living in consistent poverty and every child should have the opportunity to thrive. It is crucial that all of society plays it's role in improving outcomes for children and their families. 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.

In September 2025, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, the Government agreed a new Child Poverty Target - to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3% or less by the end of 2030. This target is ambitious, representing a reduction of 5.5 percentage points from the current rate of 8.5%. In setting this target, the Government is clear that no child should be left behind and that no level of child poverty is acceptable. Tackling child poverty requires sustained investment and cross-Government commitment over many years. The target will guide this work and ensure resources are focused on families with children who are most in need. The Economic and Social Research Institute has estimated that Budget 2026 measures will lift around 2,000 children out of income poverty, and these measures are part of the first year of the Government’s multi-year plan to meet the target.

While consistent poverty is a very important metric, it is not the only way to measure how children are doing. Given the multi-faceted nature of child poverty, both targeted income measures, and non-income measures are key in reducing child poverty, as well as high quality and sustainable employment. To support a multi-dimensional view of child poverty, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office has developed a dashboard of indicators that will complement the Child Poverty Target and allow for a more holistic measure of child poverty.

My colleague Dara Calleary, TD, the Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025. A successor strategy for the period 2026-2030 is being developed by his Department for publication in 2026. It is my understanding that the new strategy will again recognise the multi-dimensional nature of poverty and the groups most impacted by poverty and, based on this, will outline cross-Government actions.

Addressing child poverty is one of the priorities highlighted in Young Ireland, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, and measures taken within this Department reflect this priority. The Department is currently funding four two-year Local Area Child Poverty Action Plan pilots. The objective of these pilot plans is to test better service integration approaches and improve access to available services for disadvantaged children, young people and their families, based on local context and realities. The underpinning assumption informing these Local Area Child Poverty Action Plans is that outcomes for children and families can be improved by first gaining a detailed understanding of the child poverty problem in each area and then using this information to promote experiences of enhanced service integration. Work is progressing in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Tipperary, Monaghan and Kildare. The pilots will explore how to enhance access to vital supports in the areas of early years, food and fuel poverty, for those facing challenging circumstances, and for disadvantaged families with neurodivergent children. An evaluation of these pilots will end in late 2026.

The Ombudsman for Children is independent in the exercise of his functions, reporting directly to the Oireachtas, so I cannot speak to his activities. However, Tusla, under the aegis of the Department, provide a range of key services to children and families experiencing poverty in Ireland.

As a part of day-to-day activity, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) provides services and supports to children and their families to combat child poverty. These services are provided throughout the country. The functions of Tusla include supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and supporting and encouraging the effective functioning of families. Tusla’s services and supports are open to all children and families who need them, including children and families experiencing poverty.

An example of these supports include Family Resource Centres, a cornerstone of local communities, providing trusted, inclusive support to families and children where and when they need it. Family Resource Centres respond to and seek to eradicate poverty in all its forms. They are committed to addressing the structural inequalities that cause poverty, through community development and national-level advocacy. Earlier this year, I announced the establishment of ten new Family Resource Centres across Ireland. This significant expansion builds on the 2025 announcement of five new Centres, and will bring the number of Family Resource Centres from 126 to 136. This reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres over the lifetime of the Government. Family Resource Centres are of the community and for the community and by the community, and represent our ongoing investment in children, families, and communities across Ireland. I intend to continue via the Budgetary process the expansion of the network of Family Resource Centres over the lifetime of this government. There are currently two Family Resource Centres in County Laois. More information on the supports these Centres provide can be found on www.familyresource.ie.

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. 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. Priorities for home visiting in 2026 include increasing accessibility and integrating home visiting with other community supports, with a defined set of outcomes focused on child and family wellbeing.