Report seeks free school meals in disadvantaged areas

10/10/2005 - 08:23:49
The Combat Poverty Agency has recommended that schoolchildren in disadvantaged areas be provided with free meals.

The move is one of a range of proposals in a report commissioned by the Government on how to tackle child poverty in this December's Budget.

The CPA has also recommended the index-linking of child benefit payments, improved childcare supports for low-income families and new welfare payments to help meet school costs.

Research has found that up to 120,000 Irish children are living in consistent poverty.