Barnardos wants budget supports to give families a 'safety net'

 Barnardos chief executive officer Suzanne Connolly: 'It is shameful that more children are being pulled into poverty and not enjoying a decent standard of living.' Picture: Mark Stedman

Families are living without a “safety net” and have nowhere to go to quickly access funds if their income won’t cover the cost of energy and food, Barnardos has said, as it called for Government supports in the upcoming budget.

The children’s charity has said that many low-income families do not have sufficient income to provide children with necessities and said the Government must increase core social welfare rates by €25 in the upcoming Budget, at a cost of €840m.