Child Poverty in Ireland - Key Facts

Based on the current measurement of poverty:

In 2007, there were 7.4% of children living in consistent poverty. This amounts to over 76,000 children.
Consistent poverty means that these children are living in households with incomes below 60% of the national median income and experiencing deprivation based on the agreed eight deprivation indicators. This can mean going 24 hours without a substantial meal or being cold because parents are unable to afford to heat the home.
Children account for nearly 40% of all those in consistent poverty.
Children continue to be the age-group most at risk of poverty, with a rate of 19.9%. This compares with an at risk poverty rate of 15% among people of working age.
The relative income poverty line for 2008 is €218.49 per week. If your income falls below this amount you are deemed to be at risk of poverty.

Here are some of the effects of poverty on children:

Up to 1,000 children do not transfer from primary to secondary school.
15% of young people leave school without a Leaving Certificate and 3% with no qualification at all.
Many of those on low incomes cannot afford to bring their child to the doctor, dentist or optician.
The waiting lists for assessments such as psychological and psychiatric assessments are approximately 14 months which means that medical conditions are not detected early and can have a detrimental impact on a child’s development.
Hundreds of children are living in substandard accommodation. Over 59,000 families are currently on the waiting list for social housing. Damp, overcrowded, poor quality housing affects children’s health and well-being.
Traveller children continue to face hardship, discrimination and inequality, infant mortality is twice the norm and only 20% of Traveller children go to secondary school.