Child poverty and homelessness
Deputy Brady highlighted Barnardos' campaign, child homelessness and poverty, and argued children were being forgotten by Government. The Taoiseach said child poverty had fallen over the past two years and pointed to employment, education, housing investment and Project 2040 as the main route to further progress.
This morning, Barnardos launched its Lost Childhood campaign in recognition of the one in seven children, that is, more than 170,000 children whose childhoods and futures are being written for them through circumstances completely out of their control and because of poor policy on the part of the Government. One in seven children are lost to homelessness and poverty. Three thousand children in this State are currently homeless in emergency accommodation. I totally agree with what Fergus Finlay said this morning, namely, that children are the forgotten scandal within this State. The Government's commitment as part of the programme for Government is to lift 113,000 children out of poverty by 2020. Can the Taoiseach outline clearly how he intends to achieve those figures?
Comment on this
I share the Deputy's concern about child poverty. Nobody believes that any child deserves to grow up in poverty or disadvantage. While the Deputy has not acknowledged it, I know that if he had more time he would acknowledge that child poverty and poverty rates have been falling in Ireland for the past two years as a consequence of decisions made by Government.
Comment on this
That is not true in all circumstances.
Comment on this
That is according to the Central Statistics Office, which collects these data.
In terms of our commitment to deal with the issue, the most effective way to lift people out of poverty is through employment. The Deputy will be aware of the work the Government is doing to boost employment in this country and through measures such as investment in education and housing. The Deputy will be aware also of the publication of Project 2040 on Friday, which includes massive investment in education in the years ahead. There will be €8.4 billion in capital investment in our education service and-----
Comment on this
It is 2020 we are talking about - the Taoiseach's targets.
Comment on this
-----very significant investment in housing as well. There will be €4.2 billion to build 112,000 new social homes in that period. I can assure the Deputy, therefore, that we are going in the right direction and with this Government remaining in office, we will continue to go in the right direction.