September 4, 2026
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Frank Browne, Head of Services at Empowerment Plus CLG, represented ePlus at the third annual Child Poverty and Well-being Summit on 3 September 2026.
Hosted by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Axis Arts and Community Resource Centre in Ballymun, the summit brought together policymakers, service providers, community organisations, practitioners and advocates committed to improving outcomes for children and families across Ireland.
This year’s theme—tackling poverty to build inclusion, well-being and social cohesion—closely reflects the work and values of ePlus. Every day, our staff support children, young people and families experiencing adversity, helping them to build confidence, resilience, stability and meaningful connections within their communities.
A central message from the summit was that addressing child poverty requires more than meeting immediate financial or material needs. Children must also have opportunities to participate, develop their interests, form positive relationships and experience a genuine sense of belonging.
The summit highlighted the importance of listening directly to children and young people, recognising that each child’s circumstances are different and ensuring that services respond to the child in front of them.
These principles are strongly aligned with the ePlus commitment to delivering support that is child-centred, responsive and grounded in relationships. Our work is guided by the understanding that positive outcomes are achieved by building trust, recognising individual strengths and working collaboratively with children, families, communities and statutory partners.
Holding the summit in Ballymun provided an appropriate setting for discussions about the role of communities in supporting children and families. Strong community services, schools, sports clubs, arts organisations and family-support networks can provide children with safety, stability, friendship and opportunities to thrive.
The summit also reinforced the importance of early and targeted intervention. When children and families can access the right support at the right time, difficulties can be addressed before they escalate, and children are better positioned to participate fully in family, school and community life.
Reflecting on the event, Frank Browne said:
“The summit was an important opportunity to hear directly from young people, policymakers and organisations working with children and families throughout Ireland. The discussions reinforced the need to combine national ambition with practical, accessible support in local communities.
“For ePlus, the message is clear: every child should feel safe, valued, included and supported to realise their potential. Achieving that requires genuine collaboration, sustained investment and a willingness to listen carefully to children and families.”
The Government has established a national target of reducing consistent child poverty to 3% or less by the end of 2030. Reaching that target will require coordinated action across income support, housing, education, childcare, health, family support and community development.
It will also require organisations across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors to share learning, strengthen referral pathways and ensure that children and families do not encounter unnecessary barriers when seeking assistance.
For ePlus, attending the summit provided an opportunity to reflect on how our services can continue to evolve in response to emerging needs. It also strengthened our commitment to working collaboratively with Tusla, the HSE, community organisations and other partners to provide safe, consistent and high-quality support.
The summit’s focus on inclusion, participation, relationships and community closely reflects our organisational mission: to empower young people at risk and their families to live fulfilling and meaningful lives within their communities.
Following the summit, ePlus will continue to bring the learning and perspectives shared on the day into our service planning, staff development and engagement with partner organisations.
Our work will remain guided by our Values in Practice:
Care. Compassion. Child-Centred. Community. Consistency.
