Core social welfare rates should be increased by €13 a week to tackle child poverty, Social Justice Ireland has said. 

In last month’s budget, the Government increased social welfare payments across the board by €12 and announced a number of one-off measures. 

Social Justice Ireland Research and Policy Analyst Susanne Rogers said there were a number of welcome measures in the budget  but more needs to be done if child poverty is to be eradicated entirely. 

“You’ve got to look at the overall picture, this is really about putting money back into the pockets of these low-income families,” she said. 

“And again, also looking at the services these families use.” 

Housing

Ms Rogers also said the housing crisis was having a hugely negative impact on children and would lead to problems in the future. 

“Cheap, affordable, sustainable social or public housing, that’s also so necessary I think if we’re going to put a dent in any sort of child poverty figure,” she said. 

“There’s been research done about children living in homeless accommodation who miss their milestones; these things are impossible to do when you’re in a small hotel room. 

“We are building up trouble for the future because we’re not looking after these children really as well as we should do.” 

According to the CSO, 8.1% of children in Ireland are living in consistent poverty - compared to 5.1% of those aged 18-64 and 2.3% aged over 65. 

Those who are living in rental accommodation are also significantly more likely to be living in poverty; while only 1.8% of people in owner-occupied homes live in consistent poverty, the figure rises to 13.5% among those who are renting.

Main image: Mother and child shopping.