Barnardos vows to create €100m child’s paradise

CHILDREN’S charity Barnardos has vowed to make Ireland the best place in the world to be a child by 2016.

The charity yesterday revealed its plan to spend €100 million on measures so that all children are cherished equally when Ireland celebrates the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Barnardos chief executive Owen Keenan said they wanted to ensure children in every part of the country were given the support to which they were entitled. While most children could look forward to a bright future, there were still far too many falling through the cracks.

“Some of these children live in poverty, some are being abused, some are experiencing severe difficulties in their education, but almost all see a future without hope,” said Mr Keenan.

Despite progress made, around 6% of children still experienced deprivation and poverty and the worry was that people might be prepared to consider this an acceptable level.

Furthermore, he said, not enough was being done by the Government to tackle the problem of alcohol abuse that was devastating families across the country. Mr Keenan, a member Government’s Strategic Force on Alcohol, said it appeared that the Government did not have a co-ordinated policy with regards to alcohol. “The challenge is to intervene and break perpetuating cycles. We will not accept that the children of vulnerable parents are automatically consigned to a life of deprivation.”

The charity also believes children from deprived backgrounds would be better prepared for school if the Government introduced a standardised curriculum for all pre-school children in crèches and other childcare facilities. “What happens very often is there are different levels of childcare provision and at pre-school level the paths of disadvantaged children begin to diverge.”

Barnardos has also called for more State investment in pre-school services, claiming Ireland had the worst record in Europe in this area.

Barnardos works with more than 12,000 children and families each year throughout Ireland, but wants to reach out to more families and more children.

The charity’s new strategy, Valuing Childhood - Cherishing Children, will build on their existing programmes for vulnerable children and their families.

Barnardos also plans to undertake research to evaluate the effectiveness of services and identify needs.

Around 60% of funding for the plan will come from statutory bodies, with the balance coming from voluntary contributions.

“The plan is very ambitious but is achievable,” said Mr Keenan.

Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan welcomed Barnardos’ belief that everyone, individuals, organisations and Government, should pull together for the greater good of children.