One of the first things I tabled in this Dáil was a motion drafted by the Social Democrats for the eradication of consistent poverty among children. Unfortunately, the Government rejected it. We have not seen the reduction or eradication of consistent poverty among children that we need. The State of the Nation's Children report for 2023 was published earlier today. Instead of a reduction, there has been an increase in the numbers of children at risk of poverty and in those experiencing consistent poverty. We now have 191,000 children at risk of poverty and 94,000 in consistent poverty. Despite the Taoiseach giving a firm commitment that he would stamp this out, unfortunately the figures continue to rise. What is the Government going do to give children a better start in life and eradicate once and for all consistent poverty among children?

According to UNICEF, Ireland has probably been one of the better performers when it comes to reducing child poverty globally. We are in the top ten.

We have not reduced child poverty, it is going up.

That is where Ireland is positioned globally. There has been a consistent reduction over the past number of years in child poverty. Covid created challenges but we put huge investment into social protection. We targeted that investment at children at risk and will continue to do so in the context of social welfare payments, which will be doubled in the forthcoming payment next week as part of our cost-of-living package.

What about qualified child payment?

Our free primary schoolbook scheme is a dramatic intervention that significantly reduces costs for families, particularly in the context of participation in education. We have made progress. We need to continue to do so.

It was €2.

There is no question that we have made significant interventions such as the free book scheme and in the reduction of costs for health, for example.

Thousands more children are living in poverty.