Jim O'Keeffe
Question:48 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if Ireland has the highest rates of child poverty by EU standards; and, if so, the proposals, if any, he has in this regard. [10569/00]
Priority Questions. - Child Poverty.
The national children's strategy being developed by my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, is an example of one of a number of policy responses the Government is introducing to promote the welfare of children. The strategy will seek to build on the efforts of statutory, voluntary and community agencies in a renewed effort to develop more child-focused services.
The Combat Poverty Agency, in its recent submission to the national children's strategy, notes that much of the available comparative EU data on child poverty relates to the early to mid-1990s and recognises that the rate of child poverty here fell in the late 1990s. This is backed up by the latest data from the ESRI which shows reductions in both consistent poverty among children and the proportion of children living in poor households. The Government recognises, however, that much still needs to be done.
The Government shares the view that child benefit represents a key instrument for tackling child poverty. As a universal payment, which is not taxable and is not assessed as means for other secondary benefits, it does not act as a disincentive to taking up employment or to improving wages.
The recent 2000 budget provides for a record £106 million investment in child benefit. In addition, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness contains a commitment to substantially increase child benefit over the lifetime of the programme, with a priority focus towards £100 per month for the third child and subsequent children. From September, the basic child benefit monthly rates will have risen to £42.50 in respect of each of the first two children and £56 in respect of the third child and subsequent children.
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides an opportunity to progress a number of policies in relation to the needs of children. Under the terms of Framework III of the programme, new targets will be considered under the various themes of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy, including child poverty. These targets are to be considered in consultation with the social partners.
In order to ensure that the needs of children are kept to the fore in the design of policy, policy proposals across Departments are poverty proofed with particular attention paid to children.
It is Government policy to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to participate fully in society and work is the key to achieving this objective for those who can work. The unemployment rate is now well below the EU average and the live register has fallen by over 90,000 since the Government took office. Long-term unemployment has fallen more rapidly than the live register as a whole and employment opportunities have increased. Measures such as the family income supplement have helped encourage parents back into the workforce. By increasing income from work, not just the individuals benefit but the families and communities in which they live.
Does the Minister have a sense of shame when reading out that justification? Does he accept that the Combat Poverty Agency, an agency under the aegis of his Department, has produced an independent report which confirms that the rate of child poverty in this country is one of the highest in the EU? Is he not ashamed that the agency reports that one quarter of Irish children, who number approximately one million, are poor? When trotting out the facts about the few extra pounds given in child benefit, does he share with me a sense that this is wrong? One need not be a left wing pinko to accept that it is wrong. Will the Minister agree that with such an enormous surplus in the Exchequer accounts it is wrong to allow child poverty to exist to this extent? Immediate steps should be taken to eliminate it. We have the means to do so, all that is lacking is the political will.
The data upon which the report is based are for the early to mid-1990s, for most of which period the Deputy's party was in Government. I have said many times that the best way out of poverty, for both adults and children, is employment. Since the Government came to office two and a half years ago, more than 90,000 people have gone off the live register. At the same time the population has risen by a similar figure. This year the Government provided £106 million for child benefit, a record amount representing a 25% increase on the entire budget for child benefit last year.
We will not solve child poverty with a wave of a magic wand, but all Deputies will accept the result of the economic policies started by my party in Government in 1987 and followed in the intervening years. I entered national politics in 1987 and I defy anybody to say that the incidence of poverty generally, especially child poverty, has not improved. Things have dramatically improved, especially the issue of inter-generational unemployment and poverty. As a public representative, Deputy O'Keeffe knows that families which looked forward to a future of poverty into the next generation now look at the possibility of their children working and getting out of the cycle of poverty.
I do not need history lessons from the Minster.
I am talking about the period 1997-2000.
I was a Member of the Dáil during the period to which the Minister referred and I know who created the problem. We now have the resources to deal with this problem. The Combat Poverty Agency has provided a blueprint.
The time allocated to this question has expired. We must now move to Question No. 49.
We will return to this matter. The Government's record is disgraceful.
As a result of the policies agreed in the PPF, a huge effort will be made in this area.
The Minister should open his eyes. There should not be hungry children in the country today.