Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
127 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has read the report compiled by the Children’s Rights Alliance, entitled End Child Poverty by 2007; and if he proposes to factor in the recommendations of the report, particularly in the area of child income support. [28115/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to the pre-budget submission by the Childrens Rights Alliance, entitled "End Child Poverty by 2007", in which the alliance makes the case for appropriate policy and budgetary measures with particular reference to child income support measures. In addition to the alliance's presentation at the annual pre-budget forum, I met representatives of the alliance recently and we discussed the contents of its submission.
With regard to child income support, the alliance's submission makes a number of recommendations which have relevance to my Department: implementing increases in child benefit; equalising and increasing child dependent additions to primary social welfare payments; increasing FIS income thresholds.
Tackling child poverty has been, and continues to be, one of the key priorities of this Government. The Government recognises the importance of supporting and protecting families and children and is fully committed to achieving the NAPS target of reducing 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. The number of children who are consistently poor, for instance, has more than halved in the four year period 1997 to 2001, falling from 15.3% in 1997 to 6.5% in 2001.
The increased spending on child benefit in recent years has offered an effective means of channelling income support to low income families in order to tackle child poverty. Payments now amount to €131.60 for the first and second children and €165.30 for third and subsequent children. The completion of the announced programme of increases in the level of child benefit is a matter for consideration in the context of the budget.
Policy in recent years regarding CDAs has been to channel available resources through child benefit. In this way, the level of child income support is not reduced as a parent moves into employment. Given the close link between child poverty and the employment status of the parent, this has been a very important element of child income support strategy in recent years.
Family income supplement provides cash support by way of weekly payments to families, including lone parent families, at work on low pay. Improvements to the scheme, including the assessment of entitlements on the basis of net rather than gross income and the progressive increases in the income limits, have made it easier for lower income households to qualify under the scheme. Further improvements to FIS arrangements will be considered in a budgetary context.
