Latest news with #Children'sRightsAlliance
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Number of children living in consistent poverty rises to over 100,000, figures reveal
A Children's Rights Alliance report has acknowledged the number of children in consistent poverty has risen to more than 100,000 – nearly twice the previous mark – while the figure for homeless children has also increased, to nearly 5,000. The group has called on the Government to invest in solutions that address inter-generational poverty following the release of these figures from the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Housing. The Alliance is asking for measures such as resourcing early years support, cost-of-living relief, increasing budget allocation to Tusla and tackling overcrowding as a result of the housing crisis. 'What is deeply concerning is the number of children in consistent poverty – who are living in these conditions perpetually – which rose by a staggering 45,107 in 2024 to 102,977,' Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance, said. 'Policy decisions and budget investments determine the fate of these children and young people.' The report analysed Government progress and action to address child poverty. The research report spans figures on homelessness, family support and alternative care, adequate income and early years and education. Last month's figures from the Department of Housing showed that an additional 100 children were living in emergency accommodation, an increase to 4,775. Ms Ward said: 'The rise in homeless figures is nothing new. 'We have seen a year-on-a-year increase every time we publish the Child Poverty Monitor. 'The combination of rising rents – the latest average reaching over €2,000 a month nationally – and a scarcity of supply has resulted in thousands of families being made homeless but also, countless more living on top of each other or in seriously cramped and inappropriate conditions.' Ms Ward said she acknowledged positive developments with the introduction of free school books, hot school meals and free GP care for children under eight. However, she called on the Government to focus on long-term investments. 'Universal measures have advanced, many quicker than expected such as the historic billion-euro investments in childcare,' she said. 'However, these have come at the expense of the targeted measures and strategic investment that are critical to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty our children are inheriting. Budget 2026 has to focus on breaking the cycle.'
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Number of children in Ireland in consistent poverty rose 78% to 100,000 in just one year
The number of children living in consistent poverty has risen to over 100,000, with advocates warning it could take four to five generations to break the cycle. Children's Rights Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward said 'untold trauma' was being inflicted on children who are homeless in Ireland while rising rents and a scarcity of housing supply has left thousands of families living on top of each other in cramped or inappropriate homes. It comes as the Government meets today to ratify controversial changes to regulate the rental sector, which charities say will only incentivise landlords to evict more tenants to hike rents even further. The Child Poverty Monitor report for 2025, being launched today by the Children's Rights Alliance, shows the consistent poverty rate among children is higher than any other age group and rose significantly last year. Children's Rights Alliance CEO Tanya Ward said measures such as free school books, hot school meals, and free GP care for children under 8 helped families — but come 'at the expense of the targeted measures and strategic investment critical to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty'. Picture: Karl Hussey 'What is deeply concerning is the number of children in consistent poverty — who are living in these conditions perpetually — which rose by a staggering 45,107 in 2024 to 102,977,' Ms Ward said. 'These are children for whom a decent standard of living and aspirations of a better future diminish day by day. This poverty is not inevitable. Policy decisions and budget investments determine the fate of these children and young people.' Universal rather than targeted measures Ms Ward highlighted some steps taken by the Government to help families, such as free school books, hot school meals, and free GP care for children under eight. Other universal measures, such as investments in childcare, have advanced quicker than had been expected. 'However, these have come at the expense of the targeted measures and strategic investment that are critical to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty our children are inheriting. Budget 2026 has to focus on breaking the cycle,' Ms Ward said. Singling out housing and homelessness, the charity's report said there has been a year-on-year increase in child homelessness every year since it began publishing its monitor. Almost one in four children at risk of poverty are growing up in overcrowded households, which are completely unsuitable to meet their needs, the report found. It cited research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which shows such overcrowding can have negative impacts on a child's wellbeing and education, and said the Government should give this due attention. The report adds: 'With the right strategic decisions at policy level and the political will to address child poverty, we can turn the tide. The harsh reality is, that tide is rising.' RPZ plan 'will make renters even more vulnerable' It comes as housing minister James Browne will today bring proposals to Cabinet for an overhaul of rent pressure zones (RPZs), which were introduced in 2016 to protect tenants by limiting rent increases. The new proposals are part of an overall plan to attract international investment to kickstart the building of apartments here. Under the plans, the 2% cap on rent increases in RPZs will remain in place for existing tenancies but new tenancies will be more closely linked to the base rate of inflation. Under the new system, landlords will be able to change or reset rents when a tenant leaves a property, with coalition leaders agreeing the changes along with strengthened protections for renters late on Monday evening. Coalition sources said the change would for the first time ensure a national system of rent controls for every tenancy in the country and bring the 20% or of renters not covered by RPZs into a rent control scheme. Mike Allen, head of the housing charity Focus Ireland, said the Government plan will make renters even more vulnerable, and create a multi-tier rental system. 'You also create incentives for landlords to evict people so they have a vacancy, and then they can re-rent at a higher rent,' Mr Allen said. The Government has indicated it will press ahead with the proposal despite widespread concern, as Taoiseach Micheál Martin insisted the changes still offer protections for renters. Mr Martin said the Government is 'looking at everything' to increase supply, including modern methods of construction and more modular building.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Denise Charlton: Child poverty must not be our shameful legacy
We remain at risk of being the first generation in modern times to hand over a poorer society to our children. This forecast of shame should be a national call to action so we can finally break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage. The findings in the 2025 Child Poverty Monitor by the Children's Rights Alliance add to the growing body of evidence and research showing that more and more children and their families are faced with impossible decisions of heating their home or getting a dinner together that night or buying a warmer coat for winter. We know too, that there are an increasing number of families whose daily reality is even starker in that they do not have a place to call home. In the three years since the Alliance first partnered with Community Foundation Ireland to produce the original monitor, the number of children in emergency accommodation has increased by 1,747 to 4,775. These findings follow the Poverty Income Inequality and Living Standards report by the Economic and Social Research Institute, released last September, which shows that 230,000 children are in material deprivation. As startling as the numbers may be, they do not tell the full story — the sleepless nights of worry and fear, wondering where the next meal will come from. What makes the current cost-of-living and poverty crisis even more shameful is that it is escalating at a time when, on paper, we as a country are enjoying a period of wealth. The impact of the crisis is felt in every community. We know from our partnerships with researchers and 5,000 voluntary, community, and charitable workers that those communities already facing disadvantage are at the highest risk. These include lone parents, people with disabilities, people living with addiction, Travellers, and those fleeing war and persecution. However, in 2025, even those with jobs are at risk. Many families are just one pay cheque away from being pulled into debt, deprivation, or poverty. The Child Poverty Monitor, ESRI research, and experience of our partners on the ground not only provide evidence but also provide solutions and recommendations. Successive Governments have only partially met those calls to action. The roll-out of hot school meals to every pupil, pilot programmes to combat holiday hunger, and increases in welfare payments are welcome. Yet they fall short of the more systemic change called for and needed. It is now two years since the ESRI, supported by campaigners, proposed a second-tier targeted child benefit payment, which was warmly welcomed by Government and Opposition alike but has not yet materialised. Targeted support does deliver help to those who need it most. Groundbreaking work, such as that which the Community Foundation has been doing with the National College of Ireland, has shown that early education and care intervention and prevention programmes are proven to work. Focused initially in Dublin 1, and running also in communities like Knocknaheeney, programmes like ABC, which produce wrap-around supports for families, are having a real impact. Trained experts work with families to identify risks to a child's development and move to prevent them, while those children who need greater support are given safe spaces to assist their growth and development. The Government has supported this pioneering work with roll-out to other parts of the country. However, what has been achieved is small compared to what could be done by using portions of the tax billions from the Apple case to invest in childcare, schools, community and youth centres, and other social infrastructure, which would benefit not just children but people of all ages. To those who follow political cycles, it will come as no surprise that right now, from the most expensive glass-fronted offices in our cities' docklands to community centres on the ground combatting addiction, poverty, and inequality, people are busy writing. Denise Charlton: 'In Budget 2026, the Government must reflect on whether the moment for establishing think-tanks, special units or appointing tsars has passed. Surely now, the urgent need for systemic reforms and policies - for which independent research and evidence already exists - has replaced them.' Whether you are an industrialist, financier lobbyist, advocate, campaigner, or community worker, you will know that now is the time to get your demands into Government through a pre-budget submission. Many of our community partners are finalising their calls and finessing elevator pitches ready for when they bump into the local minister for a few seconds — to make the case for support. In an increasingly uncertain world, there is no guarantee that our national wealth will continue. The opportunity to do something meaningful that will deliver long-term benefits for children, families, and communities could be slipping by with each passing budget. In Budget 2026, the Government must reflect on whether the moment for establishing think-tanks, special units or appointing tsars has passed. Surely now, the urgent need for systemic reforms and policies — for which independent research and evidence already exists — has replaced them. Denise Charlton is chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, a philanthropic hub whose donors and supporters have provided over €160m to communities since 2000 to support an equality mission. Read More Child poverty and housing shortage are destroying the social contract
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Rise in children living in consistent poverty
The number of children living in consistent poverty rose by 45,107 in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the Children's Rights Alliance. Its annual Child Poverty Monitor said the number of children in consistent poverty rose from 4.8% in 2023 to 8.5% in 2024. It means that there were almost 103,000 children in households experiencing this type of poverty last year. Consistent poverty is defined as individuals who are both at risk of poverty, meaning they have a low income, and experience enforced deprivation, according to the CSO. The latest poverty monitor is the fourth by the Children's Rights Alliance that has analysed Government progress and action on the matter. While it highlights progress like free schoolbooks, hot school meals and free GP care for children under eight, the Children's Rights Alliance said these have come at the expense of "targeted measures and strategic investment" that are critical to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. The alliance described the incremental increases in child benefit as "barely enough to buy the bottle of milk and shampoo in a week". 'Extremely difficult' The CRA CEO Tanya Ward described the cumulative impact of continued rising costs as "a landslide effect" for low income families, meaning the basic necessities such as nutritious food or a warm home have become increasingly difficult. Rent remains the single biggest pressure point for many families, according to the findings. The report added that without urgent action to address the current housing crisis, it will be "extremely difficult" for other measures to effectively improve outcomes for children and young people. The number of children living in emergency accommodation increased by 1,336 between March 2022 and March 2024, it said. While the report does not focus on 2025, latest figures released almost two weeks ago showed that the number of homeless children had reached an all-time high of 4,775. Overcrowding is also "a major issue" for children living on the lowest incomes, according to the report, with almost one in four children at risk of poverty growing up in "completely unsuitable" living conditions. Poor living conditions for children in direct provision, who are at a high risk of consistent poverty, are also highlighted in the report. However, these children are not counted in the official poverty statistics. They currently receive a weekly payment of €29.80, which parents have reported is not sufficient for basic needs like food, healthcare, school supplies, books, clothing and footwear needs, extracurricular activities or hobbies, and technology and communication. The alliance's CEO said the Government did allocate funding for the direct provision payment "tailored to support these children to live a semblance of a normal life". However, Ms Ward said "despite budget investment two years in a row, there has been no movement at all to implement the payment". Regarding child protection, the report points out that referrals to Tusla have doubled in a ten-year period and that there has been "a steady increase" of 46% in referrals since 2019. It notes "continued challenges" in the recruitment and retention of social workers which means that 17%, or 983, children who are in care do not have a designated social worker and one-fifth of all children in care do not have a care plan. On the issue of early years and education, Ms Ward said this was the area where the most effective action could be taken by the Government in breaking the intergenerational cycle of child poverty. While the Children's Rights Alliance acknowledged that the Government had taken the first step in addressing wraparound early years support through the development of the programme called Equal Start, it said the programme has not been sufficiently funded and that investment needs to be scaled up in the next budget.
The Journal
9 hours ago
- General
- The Journal
Number of children in 'consistent poverty' in Ireland rise by over 42,000 in one year
THE NUMBER OF children in Ireland in 'consistent poverty' has risen to over 100,000, which marks a 'staggering' rise of 42,107 more children than the previous year. The stark statistics come from the Children's Rights Alliance's annual Child Poverty Monitor report. Children remain the most likely cohort in Irish society to experience poverty. The report also notes that children in low income houses are experiencing overcrowding in the home at a higher rate as almost one in four children at risk of poverty are growing up in overcrowded households. Statistics provided by the CSO show that over a quarter of a million children experienced 'enforced deprivation' in 2024, meaning that one in every five children was living in a household that couldn't afford the goods and services considered the bare minimum for a decent standard of living, such as a winter coat, or a new pair of shoes. Last year, just one-quarter of households that benefited from social welfare supports had an adequate source of income from these supports. The report notes that in this period, there was a focus from Government on lump sum payments and one-off top offs, rather than an increase in supports overall. Overall, the number of children at risk of poverty in Ireland fell between 2021 and 2023, but rose again in 2024. Advertisement There was an increase in the at risk of poverty rate from 14.3% of children in 2o23 to 15.3% in 2024, which accounts for an additional 12,955 children living in households with incomes less than 60% of the median income level. The report notes that since it started tracking food poverty in 2o22, there has been a 'staggering' increase in the cost of basic essentials. While it noted that the Government is on track to provide universal hot school meal provision by 2030, there is now an emerging issue of 'holiday hunger' wherein children don't have enough to eat on the school holidays, which the Children's Rights Alliance says needs to be addressed. The report found that single parent households with children are more likely to be unable to afford a roast dinner once a week, and more unlikely to be able to afford meat, chicken, or fish every other day. While just 1.8% of the population fall into the latter category (unable to afford meat or fish every other day), that increases to 8% for households with one adult and one to three children, while the figure is at just 0.9% for households with two adults and one to three children. The CEO of the organisation, Tanya Ward, has called for immediate Government action in response to the findings: 'These are children for whom a decent standard of living and aspirations of a better future diminish day by day. This poverty is not inevitable. Policy decisions and budget investments determine the fate of these children and young people,' she said. Ward noted that there has been progress with the introduction of new universal measures such as free school books, the extension of the hot school scheme, and free GP care being introduced for children under 8, and billions of investment in childcare. 'However, these have come at the expense of the targeted measures and strategic investment that are critical to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty our children are inheriting, Budget 2026 has to focus on breaking the cycle,' she said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
