John Gormley
Question:91 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if 300,000 children here are living in families with incomes of less than ?175 a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29020/03]
Written Answers. - Child Support.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:101 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the recent figures produced by the Combat Poverty Agency showing that there are 300,000 children living in relative poverty; the steps she intends to take to deal with this situation and reduce the number of children living in relative poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28945/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 101 together.
The figures cited by the Deputies derive from the analysis undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute of the results of the living in Ireland surveys. They relate to the "risk of poverty" indicator which is among the common indicators adopted at EU level to facilitate cross-country analysis. The risk of poverty rate is defined by reference to an income threshold set at 60% of average median income, adjusted for family size and composition using equivalence scales.
The analysis undertaken by the ESRI indicates that in 2001, some 21.9% of persons had incomes which fell below that threshold while for children, the number was 23.4%. This equates to some 280,000 children. These figures differ substantially from the consistent poverty measure which underpins the national anti-poverty strategy. In 2001, the level of consistent poverty amongst children had fallen to some 6.5% or around 74,000 children. Consistent poverty measures a combination of low incomes and enforced deprivation.
Tackling child poverty continues to be one of my top priorities. Strategies to address child poverty and the measures to give effect to them are set out in the revised national anti-poverty strategy, the national children's strategy and, more recently, in the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion. The overall target is to reduce the number of children who are consistently poor to below 2% by 2007 and, if possible, to eliminate consistent poverty amongst children by then. Significant progress has already been made towards achieving this target. For instance, the number of children who are consistently poor has more than halved in the four year period 1997 to 2001, falling from 15.3% in 1997 to 6.5% in 2001.
One of the key means of achieving a reduction in child poverty lies in reducing the numbers of parents who are unemployed. The current low rates of unemployment, especially long-term unemployment, and the very significant increases in the numbers in employment, have undoubtedly contributed to the reduction in the level of consistent poverty among children. The aim must be to continue to maintain high levels of employment and to remove obstacles to taking up employment, especially in the case of lone parents and parents with large families.
The importance of tackling child poverty is reflected also in the fact that ending child poverty was identified as one of ten special initiatives to be undertaken under Sustaining Progress. The policy approach underpinning this initiative includes better medical and health services within the community for young children and their parents; priority to early education and child care facilities for disadvantaged families; ensuring every child obtains a threshold of numeracy and literacy; accelerated provision of play environments for local communities; and wider availability of parenting support services for families at risk; maximising the efficacy of child income support arrangements. Specific measures under each of these headings will be undertaken over the period of Sustaining Progress and there will be a strong focus on evaluating the effectiveness of the various strategies which are adopted.