New child poverty target ‘ambitious’, Taoiseach says

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A new target for reducing child poverty to 3 per cent by the end of the decade is “very ambitious”, the Government has said.

The Cabinet signed off on the new target on Wednesday, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin saying the goal will guide cross-Government policies and ensure investment is targeted at families and children “who need it the most”.

The CSO’s 2024 survey on income and living conditions found that the consistent poverty rate among children was 8.5 per cent.

Mr Martin described the new target as “ambitious” and said: “Reducing child poverty and ensuring every child has a great start in life are key priorities for this Government.”

Publishing the target, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said: “Children who grow up in poverty are far more likely to experience poverty as adults.

“As Minister for Social Protection, I am determined to break the cycle of lifelong and inter-generational poverty.

“Recent Budgets have continued to provide supports for the most vulnerable children in our society, through measures such as increases in the Child Support Payment, the Working Family Payment thresholds, free schoolbooks, and the extension of Hot School Meals to all primary schools.

“These and future budget measures are important factors towards achieving the target set.”