Questions

3. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the assessment he has made of the recent findings on child poverty (details supplied); whether he considers that the current system of income supports is sufficiently targeted at families experiencing poverty and deprivation; the changes he believes are necessary to ensure that children in the most disadvantaged households benefit from rising househol…

53. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; the steps he has taken in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46032/26]

6. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on child poverty figures and the effectiveness of his Department's measures to reduce child poverty. [31238/26]

73. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he would consider tabulating his annual child poverty target with the material deprivation rate together with the rate at risk of poverty (after housing costs) as opposed to the current formula which incorporates the former with the at risk of poverty rate (before housing costs); if he is aware that the current child poverty target obscures the tr…

705. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the new national child poverty target, which he recently announced. [3793/26]

711. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the progress made towards a material reduction in rates of child poverty. [7091/26]

53. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; his efforts to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/26]

61. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress being made in reaching our 2030 goals in tackling child poverty. [2628/26]

1586. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on work underway to reduce child poverty, including progress against the Government's target to reduce consistent child poverty to 3%; to list the specific measures within Vote 37 that are being prioritised to support low-income families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1907/26]

84. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an overview of the Budget 2026 measures to tackle child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62062/25]

87. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; his efforts to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62281/25]

105. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the new child poverty target that he recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50586/25]

129. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his views in light of the latest ESRI report, that successive Governments have failed to reduce child poverty; and that only radical measures will turn the tide. [50753/25]

133. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has analysed the impact on child poverty of the previous Minister's decision to more than double penalty cuts to jobseekers' payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50504/25]

151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the ESRI's recent findings from their report on 'Poverty, Income Inequality and Living Standards in Ireland' that almost one in five children are at risk of poverty after housing costs; if he is aware of the ESRI's recent finding that almost half of lone parent families are at risk of poverty after housing costs; if he has any plan…

159. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection when he expects to bring forward proposals on a new child poverty target; his views on the measures that will be most impactful in reducing child poverty; if he has considered the introduction of a targeted child benefit payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50588/25]

176. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office's child poverty target. [48905/25]

411. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure the new national child poverty target published 10 September 2025 is made publicly available on gov.ie; the reason it has not been available publicly between the 10 and 15 of September 2025 (inclusive); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49899/25]

745. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he accepts the ESRI’s finding that one in five Irish children are living in poverty once housing costs are accounted for; and if so, the specific measures he intends to take to address this situation. [48345/25]

746. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the proposal from ESRI researchers for a second-tier, targeted child benefit, to better protect children in low-income households. [48346/25]

747. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the means by which he intends to meet the Government’s child poverty reduction targets, given the ESRI’s conclusion that there has been “no real progress” in this area since the financial crisis. [48347/25]

753. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific reforms being proposed or considered to introduce a second-tier child benefit, as recommended in the ESRI report of 9 September 2025 on child poverty. [48416/25]

754. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which current child poverty reduction targets are being aligned with housing-adjusted poverty measures; and the steps being taken to address the persistence of child poverty rates at recession-era levels when housing costs are taken into account. [48417/25]

756. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the indicators and timelines being used to measure progress against the reduction of housing-cost-adjusted child poverty rates; and when her Department will next report such progress to the Houses of the Oireachtas. [48420/25]

1901. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update in respect of fulfilling the Government’s commitment to SDG1 (ending poverty, including child poverty, by 2030); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44529/25]