The Government need to consider a "targeted approach for vulnerable children and their families" in Budget 2024, according to Barnardos.

Ahead of Budget 2024, Government launched its pre-Budget submission this morning, which will dictate State spending for the following year.

Children's charity Bernardos has called on Government "to focus measures towards providing the most vulnerable families and children with a decent standard of living."

On Breakfast Briefing, Bernardos National Policy Manager Stephen Moffatt said a lot of children are being pulled into poverty and deprivation.

"There are real concerns going forward about how they're going to either maintain standards of living or make sure that they don't drop and be pulled into further deprivation," he said.

"[There are] real concerns amongst families across the country, particularly certain groups – lone parents, for example, are really struggling."

Targeted approach

Mr Moffatt said the Taoiseach's Child Poverty Unit is a good step forward, but is not dictated by the same "budgetary powers" held by Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe.

"It's those individuals who are holding the purse strings to enable different Government departments," he said.

"[The Taoiseach's] specific programme offers to provide support directly to parents who are struggling, who found themselves under huge pressure over the last 12 months.

"We're looking for a €25 increase for core social welfare rates to keep in line with what's happened with inflation over the past 12 months.

"For families who do receive the Increase for a Qualified Child support, where there are children in homes, we want to see that increased €10 to €15."

Child benefit

Mr Moffatt said he acknowledges the "positive measures" around the child benefit payments, but Bernardos want to focus on "the rate of that going forward".

"When there have been say double child benefit payments, how could they potentially be targeted better in the future towards families who are really struggling under pressure?" he asked.

"Back to School allowance is a really positive measure., it was increased on a once-off basis this year ... we'd like to see that maintained going forward.

"Free school books for primary schools is a huge positive step in the right direction, placing children in a more equal position as they start back to primary school. We want to see that extended to secondary schools.

"But there are other things that the Government can do, [like] tackle this issue of escalating uniform prices. That doesn't cost anything for the Government.

"It's just the right thing to do."

Housing

Bernardos say they are very conscious of the number of children in emergency accommodation.

"One step that we really need to look at is the rate of HAP – housing assistance payments," Mr Moffatt said.

"We're far better off trying to keep families out of emergency accommodation as much as we possibly can.

"It's often very overcrowded, cramped conditions, children who find that traumatic."

Mr Moffatt said with Ireland's finances in a "very, very strong position", the Government has the breathing room to consider these suggestions in the upcoming Budget.

"This should be our goal going forward. The Taoiseach wants Ireland to be the best country in the world to grow up in, and now's an opportunity to try and make that happen," he said.