Efforts to introduce an additional "second-tier" payment for children in poverty would be intensified in the light of the EU-SILC report, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mr Brennan, said yesterday.
At a press conference after the results were announced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Minister said the survey was a message to Government to redouble its efforts to tackle poverty.
He said one of the most disappointing figures was that nearly 15 per cent of children under 15 were living in consistent poverty.
He proposed a second-tier of payments for children in this group and in the "at risk" category. This would be additional to the child benefit. Although he did not have any more detail at present, the second tier would be much more targeted.
"I think I have to intensify my efforts in this regard in the light of the 15 per cent CSO result which is not acceptable," he said.
The child benefit was at present paid to all mothers. The second tier could be worked on a family income supplement basis or extra child benefit.
He said he welcomed the debate on the definition of consistent poverty or at risk poverty.
"I am determined that the academic debate doesn't overshadow the need to act," the Minister said.
He said he did not see how the figure could move from 5 per cent in 2001 to nearly 10 percent in consistent poverty as the allocation for benefits had doubled and unemployment was down.
Asked if the 9.4 per cent figure would now be used with regard to the National Anti-Poverty Strategy, he said: "If that's what the CSO tell me, I presume that figure will be used. I think the new figures require greater focusing. More targeting is now called for," the Minister said.
Employment was a major weapon against poverty, he said. On lone parents, he was looking at how they could return to the workplace, in particular at the amount of money they were allowed to earn before it affected their allowances, he said.
Labour Party TD Mr Willie Penrose said the survey which showed almost a quarter of Irish people were at risk of poverty was indicative of the gross imbalance of Government policy in favour of the better off.
Ms Helen Johnston, director of Combat Poverty, said she welcomed the fact that the survey was published.
She said she was disappointed at the information and that there was no real impact being made in tackling poverty.
The director of Threshold, Mr Patrick Burke, said the figures were embarrassing for the Government in the context of an economy which continued to boom.