Irish Child Poverty

 Ireland has one of the highest levels of children at risk of poverty in Europe. That is according to Eurostat figures which show that a third of children here are at risk compared with the EU average of 28%.

Meanwhile, new research from Barnardos revealed that one in six children in Ireland is living in a household that suffers food poverty.

Children from the poorest households were found to be twice as likely to have a low birth weight as those in the wealthiest households.

The study also found that children’s maths and reading scores increase by 4% for every 1% more their parents earn.

Barnardos CEO, Fergus Finlay, said a century after the 1916 Rising, Ireland had failed to honour the pledge to cherish all the children of the nation equally.

“Our research reveals those in the poorest households spend seven times more of their disposable income on fuel and light than those in the wealthiest households; one in six children is now living in a household experiencing food poverty and households with children are 89% more likely to be in rent or mortgage arrears than those without”.