More than a fifth of children experienced deprivation in 2023
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Children are coming to youth centres after school for food and a warm space to do homework but one centre has such a low budget that it stretches €10 to feed 30 children, an event marking the launch of the Child Poverty Monitor has been told.
The report found more than 20% or 260,773 children in Ireland experienced deprivation last year.
It shows while the number of children living in consistent poverty dropped due to one-off reliefs for energy bills and other temporary measures, the number of children in this category, at 58,491, is the highest of any age group.
This is the third time the Children’s Rights Alliance has published this report which monitors Government progress on reducing poverty and showcases good solutions.
Gillian Brien, director of the Swan Youth Service in Dublin’s north inner city, said the challenges their young people face are mirrored across the country.
“Our kitchen is open six days a week, from 9am to 9pm. Young people go in and out of there, they can make whatever they want,” she said.
While they have an array of services, she said when young people come in “they get food” there.
She said the service's core funding level was “actually shocking” this year and that its staff are “in the kitchen trying to pull together a meal on a tenner for 30 kids because those kids don’t get fed”.
Speaking as part of a panel discussion, she said they are grateful for Government initiatives including the hot meals for schools and free books for Junior Cycle students in secondary schools, but long-term support is needed.
Referring to “once-off payments”, she said: “Let’s make these sustainable.”
She said when young people in the area get support they create inspiring art, succeed at internships, and get jobs, adding: “We have to give young people a voice.”
The keynote speaker was Elizabeth Canavan, assistant secretary general, Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division, Department of the Taoiseach.
“Poverty, especially persistent poverty, has a marked effect on a whole range of childhood outcomes, including health, education, and wellbeing,” she said. The effects are seen into adulthood and are intergenerational, she said.
It is now over a year since the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office was set up in her department, she said.
“It does represent a deepening of the commitment to the poverty agenda, but it is a commitment that needs to be reflected across Government action.”
A number of speakers, including Children's Rights Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward, highlighted the need for a dedicated children’s minister and a far greater focus on children in Budget 2025.
The Government’s new Equal Start programme was also launched on Monday to support babies and young children most in need. This offers extra supports to 800 early childcare services.