Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:61. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [74326/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 January 2026
Ceisteanna (61, 62, 64)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:62. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [74417/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCian O'Callaghan
Ceist:64. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [72587/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 62 and 64 together.
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 Finance,
• Minister for Health,
• Minister for Social Protection,
• Minister for Education and Youth,
• Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
• Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation,
• Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality.
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.
Budget 2026 moved towards permanent targeted payments to support those most vulnerable. A €320 million social welfare package for children includes the largest increase ever in the Child Support Payment, increased income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and the extension of Fuel Allowance to those on the Working Family Payment.
Increases in prices and wages have widened the gap between people reliant on social welfare and the average income in society. So, in recent years, the Government has invested to protect low-income families with children; since 2020, the weekly Child Support Payment has increased by 95% for children aged 12 and over, and by 61% for children under 12. This exceeds the growth in average wages (28%) and exceeds the rate of increase of many other permanent social welfare payments.
Other new or enhanced allocations in Budget 2026 to address child poverty through provision of services include:
• An additional €5.14 million for Equal Start - a 30% increase from the 2025 allocation;
• An additional €16.5m (€48 million full year cost) to the Department of Education and Youth to implement a new DEIS Strategy and the new DEIS Plus scheme;
• A 22% increase of €7.3m for Youth Justice supports;
• €3.2m of additional funding to expand and strengthen the national network of Family Resource Centres, with the addition of ten new centres, bringing the national total to 136; and
• Expansion of the income thresholds for the National Childcare Scheme, which will reduce the costs of childcare for lower-income families
Given the growing demand for many children’s services, and challenges with training, recruitment and retention, this year the report also highlights new and additional spending on the children’s services workforce.
Analysis from the ESRI shows that the permanent measures taken in Budget 2026 are progressive and prioritise protecting the incomes of the poorest families. This targeted approach taken in Budget 2026 is a strategic decision by Government to close the gap for children and families most at risk in our society.
The Cabinet Committee meets quarterly and met for the 3rd time in December. It will next meet in the first part of 2026.
Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 61.
Question No. 63 resubmitted.
Question No. 64 answered with Question No. 61.
Questions Nos. 65 to 87, inclusive, resubmitted.