The latest child poverty figures will be a stain on this Government\u2019s term in office unless meaningful measures are introduced to tackle income inequality, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.<\/p>\n
Deputy Farrelly, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on children, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 2026 Child Poverty Monitor, published by the Children\u2019s Rights Alliance, is a shameful indictment of failed Government policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report reveals there were more than 95,000 children \u2013 one in 12 \u2013 experiencing consistent poverty in 2025. It also found that children have the highest rate of poverty compared to other age groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a country as wealthy as ours, there is no excuse for any child to experience consistent poverty in Ireland. In a properly functioning society, parents would not have to choose between food, clothing, lighting and heat due to cost of living pressures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe latest child poverty figures are disappointing but not surprising, as this and previous governments have consistently ignored the harsh realities facing low-income families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the introduction of hot school meals and free schoolbooks were a step in the right direction, they are not silver bullet solutions that will spare almost 100,000 children from the trauma of poverty \u2013 an experience that will stay with them for life.<\/p>\n
\u201cChild poverty leads to diminished educational and social opportunities, compounded in later life by poorer employment prospects and health outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut child poverty is not inevitable. Bad policymaking by successive Fianna F\u00e1il\/Fine Gael governments is what has allowed structural inequality, poverty and deprivation to exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Government is serious about its commitment to eliminate child poverty by 2030, it needs to address income inequality. This can be done by introducing a range of targeted supports for vulnerable households, including a second tier of child benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n
June 10, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The latest child poverty figures will be a stain on this Government\u2019s term in office unless meaningful measures are introduced to tackle income inequality, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on children, said: \u201cThe 2026 Child Poverty Monitor, published by the Children\u2019s Rights Alliance, is a shameful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18061,"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-18249","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