Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:41. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the new unit in his Department to tackle child poverty. [15073/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 1 May 2024
Ceisteanna (41, 42, 43)
Mark Ward
Ceist:42. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach to give an update on the work of the child poverty and well-being programme office. [16353/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:43. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach for an update on the child poverty and well-being unit. [16711/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 42 and 43 together.
This Government established the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach in order to make sure we prioritise children, particularly vulnerable children, and to make sure they get a real chance to realise their potential.
From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Well-being 2023-2025 was published last year and is the initial Programme Plan for the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Programme Plan takes a focused approached on six key areas which have the potential to bring about significant change for children and their families. These are:
1. Income supports and joblessness
2. Early learning and childcare
3. Reducing the cost of education
4. Family homelessness
5. Consolidating and integrating public health, family and parental assistance, and well-being services
6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty.
The Programme is intended to be a living and dynamic document. If we need to, we will revisit our priorities to make sure we are focusing on those things that will really make a difference.
The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus government action. To help facilitate this, the Programme Office has established a Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Well-being. Three Network meetings have taken place to date.
The Office will also host an inaugural Child Poverty and Well-being Summit on 23 May 2024 in Dublin Castle.
As well as focusing on implementation of government commitments across the six key areas, the Office is undertaking a small number of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of cross-government responses.
The first of these was a commitment to focusing on children and their families who are experiencing poverty in Budget 2024. The Programme Office applied a cross-government approach, that culminated in the development of the report Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2024 to Reduce Child Poverty and Promote Well-being published in November 2023.
The Programme Office is building on this work and will seek to support and deepen the focus on child poverty and well-being in Budget 2025.
I believe we absolutely can transform the lives of children and families, and that we must give every child the best possible start in life. Achieving this is not only the right thing to do for children, but it is also essential for protecting social cohesion, empowering vibrant communities and for securing our long-term economic future.
Questions Nos. 44 to 63, inclusive, resubmitted.