A new report from Barnardos provides further evidence of the need for targeted energy and cost-of-living supports for vulnerable households, according to Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis.
Deputy Ennis, who is the party’s new spokesperson on children, said:
“This report confirms what we have known for some time – that too many families in Ireland are choosing between heating their homes and feeding their children.
“Of those parents surveyed, a staggering 80 per cent believed their children had been negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. The report found that 21 per cent have had to go without or cut back on heating, while 17 per cent said they had to reduce their electricity usage. A further 36 per cent had gone into arrears on their energy bills at some point in the previous 12 months.
“One of the most concerning findings was that 20 per cent of parents said they and/or their children had to go without or cut back on food. A total of 44 per cent said they skipped meals or reduced their own portion size so their children would have enough to eat.
“Shockingly, 30 per cent of respondents said they did not have enough food to feed their children.
“The Barnardos report comes just weeks after the Children’s Rights Alliance revealed that more than 95,000 children – one in 12 – experienced consistent poverty in 2025. This is completely inexcusable in a country as wealthy as ours.
“Child poverty is not inevitable. Poor policymaking by successive Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael governments is what has allowed structural inequality, poverty and deprivation to exist.
“If the Government is serious about its commitment to eliminate child poverty by 2030, it needs to provide supports for vulnerable households in October’s Budget. This should include a second tier of child benefit, as well as targeted energy supports for low-income homes.
“The Social Democrats have been consistently pushing for a €400 energy credit for households with annual incomes of less than €70,000. Shamefully, our proposal has been ignored by an out of touch Government that is oblivious to the hardships being experienced by families around the country.”
June 23, 2026