Consistent child poverty reduced from 8.5 per cent to 7.8 per cent between 2024 and 2025 under a child poverty initiative being run by a unit in the Department of An Taoiseach.
However, the latest figures shows there is a considerable distance to go if the Government is to reach its target of 3 per cent by 2030.
Consistent poverty is defined as experiencing both low income and enforced deprivation simultaneously.
The child poverty office was set up by former taoiseach Leo Varadkar in his department in 2023 with a six-goal programme.
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The second progress report, published on Tuesday, shows a reduction of less than 1 per cent in the consistent poverty rate between September 2024 and December 2025.
In a statement issued by the Government, it said the reduction was achieved “despite significant cost of living challenges” during that time.
The report states that 208,000 children in Ireland in households were at risk of poverty in 2025.
The unit in the Taoiseach’s office has co-ordinated the work of 34 agencies across 21 Government departments.
The six areas it has focused on have been income supports and joblessness; early learning and childcare; reducing the cost of education; family homelessness; improving family and parental support; and encouraging participation by children affected by poverty in sports and culture.
The report states there has been a significant increase in the number of families who have become homeless during the time period.
Between September 2024 and December 2025, the number of homeless families increased from 1,770 with 3,669 children to 2,478 with 5,108 children.
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there had been consistent progress. “Each year we have made big moves and that is what we will keep doing,” he said.
“This report highlights significant developments, including increased child-related payments, expanded access to early learning and childcare, free schoolbooks for primary and post-primary students, and the launch of the new Deis programme and Deis Plus scheme.”
Martin also said challenges remained and acknowledged “new and emerging pressures” children and families face.
Among the improvements highlighted by the report include a €174 increase in the working family payment thresholds, a 25 per cent increase in the national minimum wage, increased supports for childcare, measures to tackle fuel poverty, as well as supports for lone parents who wish to return to part-time and full-time education.
The report also refers to efforts to help those families who are at the greatest remove from being in work, including specific measures addressed at the Traveller and Roma communities.
Martin said the establishment of the unit by his predecessor had made a difference.
“It has strengthened Government action, increased the prioritisation of children and driven more joined-up responses,” he said.
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said the free-book scheme was one of the policy measures introduced by the Government to facilitate access to education for all.
“The extension of the free schoolbooks scheme to all children and young people attending primary, post-primary and special schools in the free education scheme is a significant milestone, helping to ease financial pressures on families,” she said.
