Ó Caoláin urges Reilly to act as child poverty increases

Sinn Féin’s spokesman on children wants Government response to Unicef findings

Sinn Féin’s health and children spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin put the issue of child poverty before Minister for Children Dr James Reilly in the Dáil. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Child poverty increased in Ireland from 18 per cent to 28.6 per cent between the years 2008 and 2012, Sinn Féin health and children spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin told the Dáil today.

He said a Unicef report had revealed this represented a net increase of more than 130,00 Irish children. Other countries, such as Chile, Australia and Poland, had recorded a reduction in child poverty.

Mr Ó Caoláin urged Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly to initiate a cross-departmental response to the issue.

Children living in poverty were statistically more likely to become adults living in poverty and to rear their own children in poverty, Mr Ó Caoláin added.

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Dr Reilly said there were already members of his department permanently secnonded from the Departments of Justice, Health and Education. “I am sure the deputy would acknowledge that education is a huge part of helping people get out of this cycle of poverty,’’ the Minister added. “People who stay in education have better outcomes across employment and income.’’

He said inter-generational poverty was of serious concern to the Government as a whole and to his department in particular.

The Minister also said that his department provided funding for targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at-risk young people, among other programmes.

"In 2014, current funding of €49.78 million has been provided by my department for these schemes. I am pleased to advise that Budget 2015 confirmed that funding will not be reduced.''

Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

Michael O’Regan is a former parliamentary correspondent of The Irish Times