During questions on policy and legislation today, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin failed to guarantee there will be effective anti-child poverty measures in the upcoming budget, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly.<\/p>\n
Deputy Farrelly said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got record levels of child poverty, record levels of child homelessness, and tens of thousands of children waiting on life-saving and life-changing medical procedures, while others languish on creche waiting lists – this government is categorically failing children in Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coalition has consistently ignored constructive solutions put forward by my party colleagues and I, choosing to turn the other cheek in the face of facts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis government\u2019s failure to plan for two-tier child benefit in Budget 2026 shows a serious disconnection from the growing child poverty crisis – this measure has been recommended as far back as the 2010 Commission on Taxation, as well as in recent ESRI studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn June, the Taoiseach made a commitment, asserting that there was a plethora of resources available to tackle child poverty – this included a second tier of child benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve now heard from the Minister of Social Protection that this development has been abandoned ahead of Budget 2026, after what has been one of the worst summers in our history to be a child.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Child Poverty Alliance has made it clear that targeted child benefit is the single most important intervention available to government as it would lift tens of thousands of children out of poverty at a modest cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne in five children in Ireland are now growing up below the poverty line once housing costs are factored – to dismiss the strongest available policy tool, at a time of unprecedented budget surpluses, is indefensible.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo tier child benefit is not a radical proposal; it is a common sense measure to address a growing crisis, backed up by data and expert consensus. The government\u2019s refusal to act is a short-sighted political choice with potentially far-reaching consequences for tens of thousands of children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Taoiseach must clarify why his government is insistent on treating children and young people as second class citizens in Ireland, and immediately reverse its decision to abandon effective anti-child poverty measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
September 17th, 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" During questions on policy and legislation today, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin failed to guarantee there will be effective anti-child poverty measures in the upcoming budget, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: \u201cWe\u2019ve got record levels of child poverty, record levels of child homelessness, and tens of thousands of children waiting on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[396,542,540,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aidan-farrelly","category-child-poverty","category-children","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n