Give medical cards to all under-fives, urge poverty campaigners

Irish Independent, 20 November 2001
Marese McDonagh

A MEDICAL card for all children under five and a back-to-school footwear and clothing allowance of £100 for primary children would help eliminate child poverty, campaigners urged yesterday.

Eight organisations including Barnardos and Vincent de Paul, came together to urge the Government to help the one in eight Irish children living in poverty.

In a pre-Budget submission they also urged the Government to pay child benefit on a weekly or fortnightly basis in recognition of the budgeting restraints of low-income families.

Given the Government's commitment to increase the allowance to £117.50 per week for the first and second child by 2003, the organisations want the majority of the increase implemented in the forthcoming budget.

The Open Your Eyes to Child Poverty Initiative also urged the Government to increase the current back-to-school allowances from £63 to £100 for primary children and from £78 to £150 for secondary students.

They are also seeking a £20m package of in-education supports such a breakfast clubs, homework clubs and school lunch programmes.

With the housing crisis leading to lengthening waiting lists around the country, the initiative wants increased capital funding for house building to ensure that no children have to live in B&B accommodation.

While there are no recognised indicators of child poverty in this country, the groups pointed out that lack of resources has some of the same repercussions for adults and children. This would mean that the 12pc of Irish children living in poverty do not have access to proper home heating, eat meat at most twice a week and do not have a warm coat or adequate winter clothing.