Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is referring to the first results from the 2003 EU survey of income and living conditions, EU-SILC, which were released by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, last month. The findings of this survey are a valuable contribution to the comprehensive research already undertaken into income, living standards and the extent of poverty in Ireland. A key message from the survey is that, despite the extremely positive and targeted action taken by the Government and the record levels of spending on social welfare, there continue to exist vulnerable groups, including children, who struggle on the margins of society. It is, therefore, necessary to intensify the efforts to eradicate poverty and social exclusion, particularly in relation to persons in these vulnerable groups. The EU-SILC survey is a new survey that uses a different methodology to that employed in earlier surveys. It is a fact that different surveys give different results. Therefore, the apparent differences that emerged in the "consistent poverty measure" between the new EU-SILC results and the earlier 2001 Living in Ireland survey do not suggest any radical increase in poverty rates in Ireland between 2001 and 2003. Both the CSO and the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, have assured me that the figures are not comparable and that it is therefore not possible to conclude from them whether the rates for consistent poverty went up or down or remained unchanged. Nevertheless, what is not in question are the groups who are identified as being most at risk. The EU-SILC survey confirms the findings of earlier analyses in this regard.

In my initial response to the launch of these figures, I stressed my commitment to taking swift and decisive action on child poverty. Serious consideration is now being given to the introduction of a second tier of supports — in addition to the child benefit and other support entitlements — aimed specifically at addressing those children most at risk. Linked to this are the vulnerable circumstances of many lone parents. The existing support systems will be scrutinised over the coming months and changes considered that more adequately reflect the needs of this group, and society in general, in a 21st century Ireland.

My Department is also involved in efforts to develop a strategy to eliminate obstacles to employment for lone parents. Tackling child poverty has been and continues to be among the Government's key 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 in the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion. The importance of tackling child poverty is also reflected in the fact that ending child poverty was identified as one of ten special initiatives being undertaken under Sustaining Progress. Under this initiative, key policy issues are being addressed including: child income support arrangements; the development of a strategy for strengthening families in a changing society; initiation of a longitudinal study of children; barriers to employment, particularly for lone parents and larger families. The work being undertaken under the special initiative will further enhance the capacity to tackle the issue of child poverty.

This Government continues to make significant progress in its programme of increases in the levels of child benefit. From April 2005 child benefit payments will amount to €141.60 for the first and second children and €177.30 for the third and subsequent children. Between the 2001 and 2005, the child benefit rate increased by 65%. Furthermore, the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion set a target for child benefit and child dependant allowances to be set at 33% to 35% of the minimum adult social welfare payment rate by 2007. Following budget 2005 the combined child income support, that is, child benefit and child dependant allowance, for those on social welfare will be at 33% of the lowest social welfare rate in 2005. The causes of poverty among children and its effects are multi-faceted and require a multi-policy approach and the results of the EU-SILC survey will be examined in greater detail over the coming weeks with a view to facilitating a more effective such approach.