Lifting 40,000 children out of poverty 'would cost as much as cutting hospitality Vat rate to 9%'

Trinity College Dublin’s Dr Barra Roantree addressed the Social Protection Committee on a report he recently co-authored with ESRI researchers on poverty, income inequality and income standards in Ireland. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Reducing the number of children in poverty is a “question of political priorities”, an Oireachtas committee has heard, as proposals to lift 40,000 children out of poverty would cost the same as reducing the Vat rate for the hospitality sector to 9%.

Trinity College Dublin’s Dr Barra Roantree addressed the Social Protection Committee on a report he recently co-authored with ESRI researchers on poverty, income inequality and income standards in Ireland.