According to a recent study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Ireland is facing a growing crisis of child poverty. The report reveals that up to a quarter of a million people in families with children under five are now living below the poverty line when housing costs are considered.
The situation has become so dire that schools are taking extraordinary measures. In Dublin, some schools have resorted to donating small fridges to homeless students, ensuring they and their families have access to basic essentials like milk.
Traci Tobin, a principal at St Michael’s Infants in Limerick, shared her concerns: “In my 26 years of teaching in a Deis school, I’ve never seen students so desperate.” Schools are now going beyond their traditional roles, providing not just education but also vital sustenance to struggling families.
The ESRI study paints a grim picture:
- Child poverty rates after housing costs have increased from 20% in 2020 to 22% in 2023.
- Material deprivation rates for children rose from 17.7% in 2022 to 20.1% in 2023.
- Approximately 230,000 children suffered from material deprivation in 2023, an increase of 30,000 from the previous year.
Material deprivation is defined as living without two or more essentials from a list of ten items, including basics like two pairs of strong shoes, a warm waterproof coat, and regular meals with meat or vegetarian alternatives.
The impact of this poverty crisis is far-reaching. Some schools now provide three meals a day to their pupils, with children receiving all their weekly meals from school programs. Eoghan O’Byrne, principal of St Mary’s National School in Limerick, confirmed that his school provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner to students through various funding methods.
However, this approach raises concerns about family dynamics. Fergal Landy, CEO of the Family Resource Centre National Forum, worries about the impact on family life: “I don’t want to see any family not cooking an evening meal or sitting around and breaking bread with their children because their view is ‘they got a hot meal’ during the day in school.”
The ESRI warns that the government may need to consider new policies, such as a second rate of child benefit for low-income families, in the next budget to address this growing crisis.
As inflation continues to bite, leaving the average disposable income 3% lower than two years ago, it’s clear that urgent action is needed to combat child poverty in Ireland.
According to the Irish Examiner, this situation calls for immediate attention from policymakers and society at large to ensure no child goes without basic necessities in these challenging times.