Child poverty a ‘national scandal’
The Government received an F grade in the area of child poverty in the 2015 Report Card published by the Children’s Rights Alliance. It grades the Government’s performance on issues affecting children against stated commitments in the programme for government.
An F in the area of child poverty is the worst grade of all areas and a fall from last year’s E grade.
“We have far too many children who are going hungry, who are not protected against cold weather, who don’t have anything like sufficient access to education and health choices,” Mr Finlay said, adding that he was particularly worried about poverty because it was inter-generational.
“We see it every day,” he said. “We know where these kids live. We know the neighbourhoods that are most beset by disadvantage.
“A child raised in consistent poverty is much more at risk of raising his or her own kids in consistent poverty.”
The number of young people in consistent poverty, at 130,000 children, is now equal to the population of Mayo, Mr Finlay said. “That is something that I think we should all be frightened about,” he said.
Mr Finlay said that, just a few weeks ago, Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the issue of child poverty as a “moral imperative” for any government.
“Despite that, the number of children living in consistent poverty has dramatically increased since the recession started,” said Mr Finlay. “It is undeniable that public policy has played a significant role in this increase.
“Not only has no progress been made in meeting the national target to reduce child poverty but the situation has got steadily worse. Child poverty remains not just a moral imperative but a national scandal.”
The Society of St Vincent de Paul, a member of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said it was seriously concerned at the lack of progress made in child poverty. It pointed out that the increase in child poverty over the past five years coincided with an increase in calls for help.
Around €40m a year was given in direct assistance to families over the period — double the figure in the pre-austerity years.
Paul Gilligan, chairman of the Children’s Rights Alliance and chief executive of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, said mental health had received an E grade because children were still being admitted into adult psychiatric units.
“This is not only a violation of these children’s basic rights but such practice will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for the children themselves, their families, and society,” said Mr Gilligan.
On the plus side, two A grades appear in the report card for the first time in recognition of significant improvements made in literacy and numeracy and the increase in new school buildings.
Overall, the Government received a C grade, reflecting a satisfactory attempt, but with room for significant improvement. The grade has been the same since 2013.
