I have examined the contents of the Irish Independent supplement –“Open your eyes to child poverty”– which was published in association with the Combat Poverty Agency in June. There are many issues raised in the supplement which I and my colleagues in Government continue to consider in the context of an overall strategy on social inclusion and in the implementation of social policy.
Child poverty is a particular concern of the Government and successive budget measures, along with targeted policy initiatives, have sought to ensure that our children are protected and given the opportunities to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty.
I announced in June, at the launch of the first annual report of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy's Inter-Departmental Policy Committee, that the Government had asked the committee to consider setting targets in relation to particular groups such as children in poverty. Discussions are still at a very early stage and it must be recognised that child poverty is a complex problem, the alleviation of which requires policy responses on a number of fronts.
The Government has decided to develop a national children's strategy so as to position child and youth related issues more centrally and more explicitly in public policy development and decision making in a more co-ordinated way. The strategy will also seek to build on the efforts of statutory and voluntary and community agencies in a renewed commitment to develop more child focused services. It will address the needs of children and young people up to the age of 18, with special regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is intended to publish the strategy next year.