Cathy Bennett
Question:53. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; his efforts to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/26]
View answerThursday, 15 January 2026
Questions (53)
Written answers
Reducing child poverty is a key priority for this Government, as set out in the Programme for Government.
In September 2025, the Government agreed a new Child Poverty Target: to reduce the consistent child poverty rate to 3% or less by the end of 2030.
In setting this target, would focus cross-Government investment to tackle child poverty over the lifetime of this Government.
This is an ambitious target, representing a reduction of 5.5 percentage points - nearly 60% - from the current rate of child consistent poverty of 8.5%.
In addition, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach is collating a Dashboard of Indicators, which will complement this target and allow for a more holistic measurement of child poverty.
Recent CSO data shows a welcome reduction in child deprivation rates from 2024 to 2025, reflecting the impact of Government measures to date. However, we also fully recognise that this rate is still too high and much more work is needed to lift as many children as possible out of poverty and deprivation.
The Budget 2026 social welfare package reflects this determination, with a specific allocation of €320 million to tackle child poverty. Targeted measures include the largest increases in Child Support Payments in the State’s history; higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment; and expanded eligibility for the Fuel Allowance and the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
These measures build on other important initiatives already underway that also work to reduce child poverty, such as the rollout of free school meals, free schoolbooks, the free GP visit card, the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme.
We know that income supports alone are not enough, given the multi-dimensional nature of child poverty. Therefore the Government is also focused on action in other key areas such as housing, employment, childcare and public services, many of which were also announced as part of Budget 2026.
Cross-Government actions to reduce child poverty for the next five years will be outlined in the successor to the cross-Government Roadmap for Social Inclusion, which my Department is currently developing with the support of other Departments and will be published in the first half of 2026.