Has the Tánaiste taken the time to inform herself of the details in the major report published on Monday of last week? It states that almost one in four of our population, or 23%, either live with or are at risk of poverty. It also states that nearly one in ten are living in consistent poverty. Does the Tánaiste agree that this report is a damning indictment of Irish society and of successive Governments in that we have such a persistent level of poverty and inequality? Can the Tánaiste explain to us, after all the years of the so-called Celtic tiger, why children constitute the greater number of people so described? The report shows that 15% of children are living in consistent poverty. Does the Tánaiste agree that the publication of this report is more of a damning indictment of the failure of successive Governments than even the jailing of Ray Burke? How does the Cabinet propose to respond to this report? The Tánaiste's colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, referred to a new second tier welfare payment for children. Can the Tánaiste tell us when that payment will come into effect? Why has the Government failed to reach its target of €149 per month in child benefit by this year? Legislation that has yet to be introduced will see a shortfall of €7.40 for the basic child benefit payment to first and second children.

The Community Workers Co-operative works with community groups in marginalised areas throughout the country. The Minister of State at——

I ask the Deputy to give way to the Tánaiste.

I am finishing on this.

The Standing Orders were agreed by this House and we cannot have a situation where questions go beyond every other facility in the House.

I would like the Ceann Comhairle to allow me to finish the sentence. The Minister of State, Deputy Ahern, has cut off critical funding. What is the Tánaiste's position on this? Will she help to see that funding restored?

I am aware of the report. The methodology of that report has been questioned. Given that the report takes the baseline of 60% of the median earnings, it is inevitable that we would see statistics of that kind. I acknowledge that there are too many people in Ireland living in poverty, if the Deputy wants to use that phrase, but there are much fewer people living in poverty now than there were in the recent past. Social welfare spending over the past seven years has gone up from €7 billion to €12 billion. We have particularly targeted areas like child benefit. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs remains committed in targeting welfare spending to those in greatest need. Thanks to our economic success, more and more people are participating in employment. With better education and more job opportunities, we can continue to reduce the incidence of those that live in poverty in our society.

Does the Tánaiste agree that we have the resources to ensure that no child has to live with deprivation? Would she use her office to impress upon her colleagues the importance of ensuring that child benefit is raised to the level her Government had set as a target for this current year? That target is €149 per month for the first and second child. Will she also address the issue of child dependant allowance? This has effectively decreased by 25% since it was frozen in 1994 and there is again no increase in the current year.

The Tánaiste must be aware that the Community Workers Co-operative described cutting of its funding by the Government as nothing less than a sinister move designed to silence an effective voice against poverty and inequality. What is the rationale for cutting this important funding to this group, which is working with the marginalised? I appeal to the Tánaiste to employ her influence to have this funding restored.

The Government has taken the view for some time that targeting resources through child benefit to families with children is more effective than child dependant allowances which, as the Deputy is aware, mitigate against those in employment. The Government is committed to continuing to invest heavily in welfare and, in particular, to ensuring that welfare payments are focused on those in greatest need, particularly families with children. With regard to the workers co-operative, the Deputy should put down a question to the relevant Minister.

I am asking the Tánaiste.