3,000 children forced to go without basic assistance

UP TO 3,000 children are going without basics such as Calpol, school shoes and proper clothes because they are not entitled to the Children’s Allowance.

The payment was once made to all children living in Ireland regardless of wealth or status. But in May 2004 the Government stopped giving it to children who could not prove habitual residence here.

This has resulted in up to 3,000 children of immigrant parents being denied any assistance, according to figures compiled by a number of groups working with children.

They said it would cost the State as little as €6 million a year to provide the Children’s Allowance to those who are not getting it.

Noeline Blackwell, of the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC), said the practice is in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and contrary to the Government policy to bring all children out of poverty.

“The policy was introduced as a migration policy because the Government thought it would stop welfare tourists coming here. It’s not what stops people coming here, and it’s not what brings people to Ireland in the first place and all the research shows that.”

“So one child in school is getting child benefit when the child beside them is not. That neither makes policy sense or human right’s sense,” she said.

Sr Breege Keenan, of the Vincential Refugee Centre, said the effects of denying child benefit payments are visible.

“We see children all the time whose parents cannot give them the most basic requirements. These include suitable food and dietary supplements. Over the counter medicines like Calpol and even simple play things are often very beyond the means of these parents,” she said.

Jillian van Turnhout, of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said: “Many of the parents simply cannot find the voluntary contributions requested by schools, and cannot even afford the books or curricular activities that are so essential for the integration and development of their children.”

Ms Blackwell said children should not be discriminated against based on their parents’ status.

“The Child Benefit was always unique, because it was not mean tested and was given to every child who was resident here, whether their parents were absolute millionaires or paupers,” she said.

“We would ask Irish people to think about what it would be like if they had to go without the Children’s Allowance for their child. Some people save it up, or use it to buy nice clothes. Others just can’t put food on the table without it. It’s important to everyone,” she said.