Irish Children In Poverty Regulation Zone – Crowe

Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe TD  responding to a new UNICEF report  that shows that Irish families with children have lost the equivalent of ten years of income progress, said he was extremely angry at the on going impact the governments austerity economics that are having such a negative impact on the most vulnerable in Irish society. The report highlights that child poverty rate rose from 18% to a whopping 28.6%, between 2008 and 2012. The report suggests a net increase of more than 130,000 of children living in poverty in Ireland.  Poverty among older people has also increased by 2.5% during the same period.

Deputy Seán Crowe:

“UNICEF’s Report shows that 2.6 million children have sunk below the poverty line in the world’s most affluent countries since 2008, bringing the total number of children in the developed world living in poverty to an estimated 76.5 million.

“According to this UNCIEF report, Ireland ranks 37th of 41 OECD countries, (the regulation zone in football language,) in a table measuring changes in child poverty.

“The Report Card entitled, Children of the Recession: The impact of the economic crisis on child well-being in rich countries, ranks 41 countries in the OECD and the European Union according to whether levels of child poverty have increased or decreased since 2008. The report also tracks the proportion of 15-24 year-olds who are not in education, employment or training.

“Worryingly austerity economics have hit 15-24 year olds especially hard with Ireland ranking 14th out of 41 countries in a  table measuring those  “Not in Education, Employment or Training” increased by one point to 16.1%.

“The most recent figures from the Department of Social Protection show that only 9,115 placements have been provided to the approximately 28,500 young people without a job or placement. Of those on the scheme, 67% were on JobBridge and training with FÁS/SOLAS.

“The plan launched by Minister Burton in January of this year also promised to provide every young person under 25 a good quality offer of employment, continued education or traineeship within a period of 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving education.

“This UNICEF reports  highlights clearly that something has to change drastically.

“Ireland needs to place the well-being of children at the top of government priorities. Austerity economics are directly responsible for more and more people being driven into poverty and disadvantage. We know from previous studies that children living in poverty are more likely to become impoverished adults and have poor children creating and sustaining intergenerational cycles of poverty.”

“Every Irish child should the right and expectation to a basic standard of living. This important piece of research highlights clearly that the right policy choices, regardless of the economic environment, can make lasting positive changes to children’s lives and give children the best start to ensure that they grow up to fulfil their real potential.”