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Having access to food is a basic in a functioning society, not a luxury, yet too many families across the State are experiencing food poverty. How is this acceptable to the Government? At the same time, we see supermarkets operating in Ireland making eye-watering profits

getting squeezed. We need transparency. The Social Democrats are calling for this. We need accountability. Food banks are experiencing a massive increase in demand and more children are living in poverty and homelessness than ever before. It is shameful. What we see around our city is shameful

child poverty. Disability has to be prioritised through income supports. A child poverty approach in the budget is essential. I have a child poverty unit in my Department that will come up with proposals. We are committed to this but I hope I get the Opposition’s support … refine and improve it in terms of the quality of food and get all that right but it is a big change. I acknowledge that we need to do more about child poverty but there is a choice facing everyone in this House

goods or optional extras. Charities and community organisations in my constituency, Dublin Rathdown, have said the number of people asking for help with food has risen drastically. People are choosing between heating and eating not because they have done anything wrong but because they have not been protected … those on the margins are being pushed ever closer to a cliff edge. Lone parents, pensioners, people with disabilities, those already in poverty are examples of people who are already vulnerable to those extra costs. They are the hardest hit in this crisis and we cannot

living in consistent poverty. There were 100,000 of them in 2024. According to the Children's Rights Alliance CEO, the cumulative impact of continued rising costs has created a landslide effect for low-income families meaning that ensuring basic necessities, such as nutritious food or a warm

consistent poverty nearly doubled, to more than 100,000, in 2024; and — the Children's Rights Alliance Chief Executive Officer, Tanya Ward, has described the cumulative impact of continued rising costs as "a landslide effect" for low-income families, meaning that basic necessities, such as nutritious food

parents are using food banks, that 40% of parents are borrowing money and that 19% of families cut back or go without food. Let that sink in for a minute. This is the reality of where we are in 2025. The Government’s response to this motion … reality. Stop sitting on your hands and get up and make the changes that are needed now. Childhood is the first thing poverty steals from any child, and this is rampant in our society. Unfortunately, it is under the Government’s watch

that is spiralling out of control. We have record homelessness. We have disability services that are threadbare. We have soaring levels of child poverty. We have a cost-of-living crisis that is escalating and we have energy and water infrastructure that is crumbling. The reality is this … prudent financial management while they struggle with the very basics. They struggle to keep a roof over their heads, their electricity on and food on their tables. The public services they need are just not there for them. I ask the Tánaiste to please spare us his lectures

living just on the margins when it comes to being able to cover their costs. That there are 250,000 children in poverty is an indictment of this Government and its policies. One of the biggest creators of inflation and cost in the country is the Government … they are going to continue to rise for the next five years. Another problem in this State is the supermarket sector and the food processing sector are both oligopolies. They have been allowed develop into oligopolies and they have oligopoly power. Their strong buyer power means can force

impact of the cost-of-living on families is hugely concerning and shameful. It states 12% of families now use a food bank, that 40% of them either skipped or reduced meal portions to ensure their children have enough to eat and that a third of families … information. That is very important. I strongly support Deputy Nash’s amendment to the motion. We have 250,000 children living in poverty in this State. The figure has not reduced in five years and it is shameful. A second tier of child benefit should target this issue

Social Protection to provide an update on progress in respect of fulfilling the Government’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 2 (ending food poverty by 2030). [43586/25