Anti-poverty group: Childcare aid falling short
State aid towards childcare and health services for families with children is among the lowest in the EU, leaving thousands stuck in the poverty cycle, it was warned today.
Helen Johnston of the Combat Poverty Agency said it was unacceptable in a rich society that around 15% of the population, with 148,000 children under 18, was living in consistent poverty.
“We fall short on service provision for families with children and this results in increased hardship for below income and work poor families,” Ms Johnston said.
The Government must directly subsidise childcare, particularly targeting low income and vulnerable families to give people a chance to engage in education, training or work outside the home to leave the social welfare system, the agency urged.
The agency’s report ’Ending Child Poverty’ warned that Ireland was among the lowest out of 22 industrialised European countries for providing services for families with children.
Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan said: “I do acknowledge there are a considerable amount of people whom the rising tide has not lifted. There are a considerable number of people living in poverty. There is particularly a considerable number of children. That is not acceptable.”
Mr Brennan said the Government was working to tackle child poverty. He highlighted the possibility of a ’second-tier’ payment for low-income families with children as a response, as well as improving the services.
