Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
53. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; the steps he has taken in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46032/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing child poverty is a key priority for this Government, as set out in the Programme for Government. The Department of the Taoiseach's Child Poverty and Wellbeing Programme Office continues to lead and drive this important work across Government.
In September 2025, Government agreed a new child poverty target to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3 per cent or less by 2030. This ambitious target represents a reduction from the rate of 7.8 per cent. The target is guiding cross-Government action on child poverty and helps ensure resources are directed to families most in need.
In addition, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office has also developed a Dashboard of Indicators to complement this target and measure child poverty in a more holistic way.
I was pleased to see a reduction in the Central Statistics Office Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025 of national child consistent poverty, from 8.5% in 2024 to 7.8% in 2025, equivalent to an 8.5% reduction year-on-year, and reflecting the impact of Government measures to date.
It is important to note that as a developed economy, poverty in Ireland is measured on a relative rather than an absolute basis. In other words, poverty is assessed by comparing a person's income to the average income in society. As a relatively high income country, this means that many people assessed as experiencing poverty in Ireland might not be considered as poor in other EU countries.
Nevertheless, as we are committed to social cohesion it is important to retain this approach. Moreover the consistent poverty measure that we use is unique to Ireland and captures those children in families that are at both at risk of relative poverty and those who self-report material deprivation.
It is also important to remember that the SILC data from the Central Statistics Office has a time lag and is based on income from 2024 – the data therefore does not yet reflect the impact of very significant Budget 2026 measures.
Despite this, we fully recognise that much more needs to be done to reduce child poverty, and to deliver our target by the end of 2030.
Achieving this requires sustained investment and cross-Government commitment over many years.
Budget 2026 reflects this commitment, with €320 million alone allocated to my Department to address child poverty. Significant measures include record increases in the Child Support Payment, higher Working Family Payment thresholds, and broader access to Fuel Allowance and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and expansion of Hot School Meals. These build on important initiatives already underway such as free schoolbooks, free GP visit cards and early childhood supports.
Reflecting the need for a multi-dimensional approach, work continues across Government in other key areas such as housing, employment, childcare, education and health to address child poverty. The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026-2030 published on 27 May, which contains a dedicated focus on child poverty, outlines many of these actions, with the aim of achieving our target by the end of 2030.
