40,000 more children fall into poverty since 2010

THE number of children estimated to be living in consistent poverty may have risen by as much as 40,000, Barnardos has estimated.

The children’s charity launched its Children’s Budget yesterday, appealing to the Government not to make matters worse for the thousands of families already struggling with reduced means.

Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said last year’s Budget reduced annual disposable income by between €1,900 and €3,500 for families on low incomes, and that the same families were being targeted by repeated cuts in other areas such as health and education.