Kathleen Funchion
Question:26. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the child poverty and well-being unit within his Department. [20134/23]
View answerWednesday, 3 May 2023
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Written answers
Our vision is to make Ireland the best country in Europe to be a child. The role of the Department of the Taoiseach will be to co-ordinate and focus Government action.
Poverty restricts a child’s opportunity. I recently informed cabinet colleagues that the new Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office has been established. The areas it will focus on are as follows:
· Income Supports and Joblessness
· Early Learning and Childcare
· Reducing the Cost of Education
· Family Homelessness
· Consolidating and Integrating Family & Parental Support Health and Well-being
· Enhancing Participation in Culture Arts and Sport for Children and Young People Affected by Poverty.
The initial focus of the Office will be on drawing up a sequenced work programme for these areas. There has been broad engagement with civil society organisation, Government Departments and statutory agencies to identify the policy areas for the new Programme Office.
The Office will operate within the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division of the Department of the Taoiseach, which has developed the work to date. Assignment to the new dedicated programme team is well underway.
Further work and engagement is ongoing to inform the scope and programme of work of the Programme Office. The aim is to ensure that the Programme Office brings added value, as well as strategic leadership and enhanced accountability, to the Child Poverty agenda and makes a tangible difference to the lives of children and families.