Rights group: Put our children first to end poverty

A SYSTEMATIC public assault is needed to tackle the growing problem of child poverty, according to Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay.

“We have said over and over again that early childhood development, and the enabling of children to get the very most from their school years, is the key to ending child poverty,” he said.

Mr Finlay, speaking at Muintir na Tire’s annual conference in Ballykisteen, Co Tipperary, said the child in the 21st century, almost irrespective of status or income, was going to face a great many challenges.