Simon Harris: Budget has to be about children and child welfare

It follows the publication of a report by the Child Law Project about children in care

Minister Simon Harris said: “I think the test of Budget 2024 now is going to be how much progress can we make on these societal issues that are causing so much pressure in terms of families.” Photo: Damien Storan

The upcoming budget “absolutely has to be” focused on child welfare and tackling child poverty, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has said.

The minister was speaking following the publication of a report by the Child Law Project, which detailed concerns raised by retired judge Dermot Simms, who said that he had “utmost concern for the immediate predicament and welfare” of children in care.

Following the publication of the report, Tusla admitted that it is facing a “crisis point”, with interim CEO Kate Duggan saying this is due to the increased demand for services and societal issues like the housing crisis and poverty.

Mr Harris said that the report shows that there is a need to tackle child welfare issues in the upcoming budget.

“It really drives home to me the point that the next budget absolutely has to be a budget about children, child welfare, and about tackling child poverty,” Mr Harris said.

“The Taoiseach has set up, within the Department of the Taoiseach, a new child poverty and wellbeing unit.

“I think the test of Budget 2024 now is going to be how much progress can we make on these societal issues that are causing so much pressure in terms of families.”

He said that the statement from Ms Duggan was “very sobering”.

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“That should stop everyone in their tracks, including those of us in Government, when they talk about the fact that they find themselves in crisis,” Mr Harris said.

Asked what could be done to improve the situation for children in care, Mr Harris said that the roll-out of the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act would help, saying that it provides a new approach to how vulnerable people are treated in the courts system.

Mr Harris added that underlying issues needed to be addressed, including tackling disadvantage.

“This is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, we have to actually really have a concerted effort to tackle some of the underlying societal issues.”

Speaking in Brussels, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the report was of “deep concern” and that the Government was working to improve the situation, pointing to the establishment of a child poverty unit within his department.

In particular, Mr Varadkar cited the introduction of free schoolbooks, extending free school meals and free GP care for children under eight as key Government initiatives to reduce child poverty.

“But I wouldn't be setting up the unit if I didn't think there were lots of bad things as well. And certainly the report today is a matter of deep concern,” Mr Varadkar said.

“It isn't new to the government in the sense that we've had discussions, at cabinet sub-committee meetings in recent months around the whole issue of children who are in care.

“They need a lot of help and the truth is the number of children who need to be taken care of by the state has increased considerably."