67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his key priorities under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026–2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46026/26]

The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026 to 2030, which was published in May 2026, is the Government’s whole-of-Government strategy to reduce poverty and improve social inclusion over the next five years.

Its overarching ambition is to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent or less by the end of 2030, to reduce income inequality, and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the European Union.

To support these ambitions, the Roadmap sets out 63 cross-Government actions, recognising that poverty is multi-dimensional and must be addressed across a broad range of areas. These include income supports, employment, housing, education, health, transport, childcare and other public services.

A key priority under the Roadmap is to focus efforts on those groups most impacted by poverty and social exclusion, including families with children on low incomes, lone parents, disabled people, older people and disadvantaged communities, such as Travellers and Roma.

In this context, reducing child poverty is a particular priority. In September 2025, the Government agreed a new national child poverty target of 3 per cent or less, based on consistent poverty, to be achieved by the end of 2030. The actions in the Roadmap will support the delivery, and the reporting of, this ambitious target.

The Roadmap also places a strong emphasis on co-ordinated delivery, evidence-based policymaking and ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including people with lived experience of poverty and social exclusion. It was developed following a public consultation process that received almost 500 responses and was launched at the Social Inclusion Forum in May 2026 that brought together Government and organsiations working with people impacted by poverty and social exclusion.

Progress under the strategy will be measured against 25 high-level indicators and reported on annually in published progress reports following their noting by Government. Oversight will be provided through a Steering Group chaired by me, the Minister for Social Protection, with representation from all relevant Government Departments and the community and voluntary sector.

My priority, working with Cabinet colleagues, is to ensure that the actions in the Roadmap translate into real outcomes for individuals, families and communities, and that the State continues to build a fairer and more inclusive society in which everyone can live with dignity and participate fully.