Child poverty in Ireland isn’t solely characterised by a family’s struggle to financially survive. It is defined by children sleeping on an empty stomach, lack of sufficient clothing, an absence of educational and societal involvement. Deep-seated poverty places children on a trajectory of ongoing suffering, thereby warping their childhood, with the impact potentially resonating throughout their lifespan.
Shockingly, in Ireland, a prosperous nation with an abundance of resources like never before, over a quarter of a million minors endure these forms of deprivation. Alarmingly, the figures are escalating with an extra 30,000 children now residing in families where basics like shoe replacement become a luxury due to the inflating living expenses and housing instability.
However, there has been an unprecedented political interest in alleviating these problems. About 18 months prior, the former taoiseach Leo Varadkar publicized the establishment of a bureau under his department focusing on child poverty and wellbeing. He had envisaged Ireland as the “finest nation for children to grow up”.
Since then, there have been improvements such as the enlargement of school meals initiative and extending free schoolbook schemes to secondary levels. These promising steps will eventually establish a solid support system for young individuals to realise their potential.
Despite the progress, much more has to be actioned. The Government is required to upgrade targeted social security payments to mirror actual living costs. Implementing a second layer of child benefits targeting the most underprivileged families is essential. Studies suggest it’s an advantageous strategy for elevating children from poverty.
In stable housing, fostering the wellbeing of numerous children is hindered by the lack of equal access to healthcare and therapy services. Lengthy waiting lists for treatments such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, mental health and disability services detrimentally affect children’s growth and learning. Intervention at early stages is of paramount importance. Reports indicate that even a single experience of poverty can detrimentally impact a child’s development.
Over a hundred years prior, the inaugural Dáil affirmed in its democratic scheme that the key obligation of the government was to ensure the physical, mental, and spiritual health of children. However, this commitment wasn’t achieved. Presently, with ample resources at disposal and no room for justifications, it’s critical that improving child wellbeing and making Ireland the premier nation for children to live in should be of utmost national importance.