Child poverty and budget fairness
Deputy Gannon argued child poverty had risen sharply and criticised energy grants going to second-home owners. The Minister said the budget had the largest social welfare package ever and that official analysis showed a progressive impact on lower-income households.
Social Justice Ireland, the ESRI, the Growing Up in Ireland report, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and One Family have all made statements on the budget and each have highlighted the fact child poverty has increased dramatically during the Minister's time in government. It has increased so dramatically there was a 30,000 increase in children experiencing deprivation just last year. Over the course of the next day there will be another ratification of the energy grants scheme, which is fine, but €15.5 million of that is going to go to people with second homes. Over the course of the last three years those one-off payments have amounted to nearly €100 million for people with second homes. Why should people with second homes get this grant when there are too many children growing up who do not have access to a second pair of shoes or a warm coat? Another Fine Gael Minister has tittered, but this is actually captured in the reports. This nasty party approach they have been taking in the last couple of weeks, I was going to say it did not suit them but it clearly does. Why are we giving energy payments to people with holiday homes when so many children do not have access to a second pair of shoes?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. The Government is keenly aware of issues in relation to child poverty and these issues formed a critical input into the development of the budget, which included the largest social welfare package in the history of the State. It provided €2.6 billion to assist households. The analysis published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform shows the budget 2025 core package of tax and expenditure measures has a progressive impact and the benefit to the bottom three deciles is driven by the significant social protection package, with higher income deciles benefitting proportionately more from tax measures. Budget 2025 builds on previous budgets that have also had a very positive effect. The 2023 survey on income and living conditions saw a reduction in consistent poverty. It is down from 4.9% in SILC 2022 to 3.6% in 2023. It is reducing.