Barnardo’s Calls On Govt To Increase Incomes Of Families Living In Poverty

The children’s charity Barnardo’s has called on the government to increase the family incomes of the one in nine children in Ireland living in consistent poverty.

The children’s charity Barnardo’s has called on the Government to increase the family incomes of the one-in-nine children in Ireland living in consistent poverty.

Speaking in advance of the Department of Social and Family Affairs annual pre-budget meeting with the Community and Voluntary sector, Advocacy officer Nora Gibbons said: “We know that consistent poverty blights the lives of over 100,000 children in Ireland. It is the kind of poverty where children can go without a substantial meal for the whole day and then come home to a freezing house because the family cannot afford heating.

“Children in poverty are not confined to welfare-dependent families; they are also the children of parents in low paid jobs.”

Barnardo’s have outlined specific areas where children and families at risk of consistent poverty can be alleviated.

1. Family Income Supplement: change from a benefit based on application to an automatic payment once family incomes fall below a certain level.

2. Qualified Child Allowance: Increase from €22 a week to €30 a week.

3. Inconsistencies and Welfare Traps: Ensure consistency of benefit thresholds so that families do not suffer and the Government’s own anti-poverty efforts are not undermined.

4. School Meals Programme: Build on the department’s success with the programme, boost funding to schools already running it and increase funding for the overall programme so it can be rolled-out to all schools.