Budget 'should tackle child poverty rather than woo voters'

The Green Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Joe O'Brien, said 'the investment will have a better longer-term impact for the whole of society, and not just a particular section'

A report was published two weeks ago showing that Irish children aged up to 15 are more likely than their European counterparts to be at risk of poverty before social transfers kick in.

The Government should forgo budget measures aimed at wooing voters in favour of long-term investments in child poverty, the junior social protection minister has said.

Joe O'Brien said the Government must make the "hard decisions" in October's budget.