28/10/2014

Child Poverty Increases In Ireland

A new study has found that child poverty in Ireland has increased.

The research from UNICEF looked at the impact the recession has had on children in developed countries. Of those countries, children in Ireland near the bottom of the list, at 37th place.

Those listed below the country, are Croatia, Latvia, Greece and Iceland.

The report found that families in Ireland have lost the equivalent of 10 years of income progress as a result of the economic crisis, with the child poverty rate surging from 10%, to 28.6% between 2008 and 2012.

In terms of a net increase, this is more than 130,000 poor children in Ireland.

Elsewhere, poverty among the older generation has risen by 2.5% during the same period.

UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Peter Power said: "Countries should place the well-being of children at the top of their priorities during economic recessions.

"Not only is this a moral obligation, but it is in the long term self-interest of societies.

"Children living in poverty are more likely to become impoverished adults and have poor children, creating and sustaining intergenerational cycles of poverty."

(JP/IT)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 November 2017
Govt Must Do More To Tackle Child Poverty And Homelessness
Marking the UN's Universal Children's Day, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs Denise Mitchell, has called on the government to do more to tackle child poverty and homelessness. Deputy Mitchell said: "We saw in September that the number of homeless children in this State exceeded 3,000 for the first time.
13 December 2019
Open Policy Debate On Child Poverty Hosted By Dr Zappone
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, has hosted an Open Policy Debate on Child Poverty in association with the Children's Rights Alliance in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Keynote speakers that addressed the event included Minister Zappone, Professor Mary Daly from Oxford University and Dr.
15 April 2016
UNICEF Report Underscores Need To Address Child Poverty And Deprivation
The latest UNICEF report underscores the need to address the issues of child poverty and deprivation in Ireland, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Social Protection Willie O’Dea has said.
03 February 2016
Vodaphone Partners With ISPCC To Help Keep Children Safe
Telecoms giant Vodaphone has announced a five-year partnership with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). The partnership aims to help keep children safe. Vodaphone Ireland Foundation will provide the charity with €2 million in direct funding over five years.
20 July 2016
One In Eight Children Living In Consistent Child Poverty - Report
The number of children living in child poverty has almost doubled during the recession, according to a new survey. The report from think-tank TASC showed that one in eight children are now living in consistent poverty.