Speech by Simon Harris TD Tánaiste and Minister for Finance at the Child Poverty and Well-being Summit

Good afternoon, everyone.

It is a real pleasure to join you here in Ballymun as we come to the close of today's Summit.

The theme of this year's Summit - Every Child: tackling poverty to build inclusion, well-being and social cohesion - goes to the heart of the kind of country I believe we all want Ireland to be.

A country where every child has their basic needs met.

But also a country where every child has the opportunity to realise their potential.

Where they can participate, make friends, discover their talents, and most importantly, feel that they belong.

Because childhood should be about more than just getting by.

It should be a time of possibility.

A time when our young people feel included in their community, where they can participate alongside their peers, and where they know that they are valued and supported.

These experiences are fundamental to children’s well-being and help lay the foundations for a more inclusive and cohesive society.

However, I think we need to be honest with each other here today.

Children today are growing up in a world that is very different and more complex from the one many of us grew up in.

Our children are being exposed at younger and younger ages to pressures, content and influences that quite frankly they should not have to deal with.

They are growing up with social media, smartphones and a constant stream of information that can be overwhelming at the best of times, and detrimental at the worst.

While the role of social media companies is perhaps for another day, I do want to welcome the developments we saw last week in the US, where Meta agreed to make a substantial settlement to resolve claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed children.

It is my firm view that the Meta case should compel all social media companies to immediately adopt new child protection measures across all platforms and in all jurisdictions.

Social responsibility should not have to be compelled in court.

And just as importantly, our young people should not have their choices, their attention and their view of the world shaped by algorithms designed to manipulate, mis-lead and take advantage.

So, now that we have this settlement, it needs to be a breakthrough moment.

We need to see meaningful safeguards across the vast range of design features that negatively impact our young people.

Social media companies must see that change is now unavoidable.

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Colleagues, what happens in childhood matters.

The confidence children develop, the relationships they form and the opportunities they are given can stay with them for the rest of their lives.

But we also know that poverty can make all of this significantly more difficult.

No child should be denied opportunities to participate, to belong or to realise their potential because of their family's financial circumstances.

No child should be left feeling that the school trip, joining a team, learning a musical instrument or simply spending time with their friends is for somebody else.

There is a substantial body of evidence showing that poverty and material deprivation can have lasting impacts on children's health, well-being and life chances.

It can also affect educational outcomes, participation in social activities, and children's overall sense of inclusion.

Indeed, the effects often extend far beyond childhood and shape opportunities throughout adult life.

That is why tackling child poverty is not only about addressing hardship in the present.

It is also about creating a fairer society for future generations.

Education

Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to do that.

It can break cycles of disadvantage and open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

But for education to fulfil that role, the children facing the greatest barriers must receive the greatest support.

That is why, in March of this year, my colleague the Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton, launched the DÉIS Plus programme, strengthening supports for schools serving disadvantaged communities.

But we also know that poverty does not begin or end at the school gate.

And neither can our response.

That is something I feel particularly strongly about.

It was one of the reasons I strongly championed the introduction of the Holiday Hunger Pilot last year.

Because hunger does not take a summer holiday.

A child’s need for a nutritious meal does not disappear simply because the school term ends.

Through summer programmes and youth services, the pilot has helped children continue to access nutritious food while also giving them opportunities to stay connected with their friends and their communities.

And I was particularly encouraged to hear the feedback from the young people from Ballymun Regional Youth Resource about the difference this support can make - and their support for expanding it.

Their contribution today matters.

Because if we are serious about developing policies for children and young people, then we have to be serious about listening to children and young people.

Too often we can fall into the trap of talking about young people rather than talking with them.

Today has shown the value of doing the latter.

And listening to those experiences reinforces something else.

There is no single policy that will end child poverty.

There is no one Department that can solve it.

And there is no quick fix.

It requires sustained action across every aspect of a child’s life - family income and supports, housing, healthcare, education, nutritious food, early learning and childcare, and opportunities to play and participate.

That last point is important.

Because one of the themes that has come through strongly today is that play is not a luxury.

Participation is not an optional extra.

Whether it is kicking a football, joining a club, learning an instrument, dancing, performing or simply spending time with friends, these experiences are part of childhood.

They are how children develop confidence.

They are how friendships are made.

They are how a sense of belonging is built.

And no child should be excluded from those experiences because their family cannot afford them.

Supporting children from their earliest years is also central to this work.

That is why Government has committed significant resources to transforming our early learning and childcare system.

Our ambition is clear: to make childcare more affordable, more accessible and more inclusive for families throughout the country, including progressively reducing average childcare costs to €200 per month per child.

We are making progress.

Between 2022 and 2025, childcare costs fell by around a third as a result of sustained State investment and fee controls, and a growing number of families are now paying less than €200 per month.

But we know there is much more to do.

That is why we have introduced a €135 million State-led capital programme to expand capacity and deliver high-quality services where they are needed most.

And reforms to the National Childcare Scheme which came into effect this week will raise income thresholds and further improve affordability.

Making childcare more affordable, accessible and sustainable will remain a priority and will be an important focus of our upcoming budgetary strategy.

Because investment in early learning and childcare is not simply about reducing a bill for parents - important though that is.

It is an investment in children.

It supports parents.

It is key to women’s participation in the workforce.

And it gives children a great start in their first five years.

Concluding Remarks

Colleagues, today’s Summit has highlighted the progress we have made, but also the work still ahead of us.

Nobody in this room needs to be told that the challenges are significant.

But I think there is also good reason for optimism.

Across Government, communities and the voluntary sector, there are people working every single day to improve the lives of children and young people.

And as we come to the close of today’s event, I want to thank them.

Government can pass policies.

We can allocate budgets.

We can design programmes.

But ultimately, it is people who change lives.

It is the youth worker who notices when a young person is struggling.

The family support worker who helps a parent through a difficult period.

The coach who makes sure every child gets onto the pitch.

The volunteer who gives their time and, in doing so, gives a young person a sense that somebody believes in them.

Our job in Government is to back those people and enable that work.

It was a particular pleasure today to hear the reflections emerging from the Community Hub.

The organisations working here in Ballymun are delivering life-changing services and supports.

And I know that same commitment exists in communities right across our country.

Most importantly, I want to thank all the children and young people who participated today.

It takes courage to stand up in a room like this.

To ask questions of the Taoiseach. To engage with Ministers.

And to share your own views and experiences.

Your voices matter.

And you have made a vital contribution to today’s discussions.

I also want to thank the many children and young people who performed for us and showcased the remarkable talent that exists in this community.

I believe we have one final performance before we conclude - and I understand it is a very special one.

So I leave here today with a renewed sense of determination, but also of hope.

When we committed to making child poverty a defining national priority, we knew there would be no overnight solution.

It requires investment.

It requires persistence.

And it requires all of us to keep our focus on what ultimately matters.

Because we face many challenges as a country.

But surely there can be few greater measures of the kind of society we are than how we treat our children.

Every child deserves the chance to have a childhood.

Every child deserves the chance to belong.

And every child deserves to be able to look to the future with confidence and hope.

That is the ambition.

And it is one worth working for, together.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.

ENDS