What is child poverty?

The Irish National Anti-Poverty Strategy commits to the elimination of consistent child poverty. The Strategy defines consistent poverty as being below 50-60% of average disposable income and experiencing the enforced deprivation of basic items such as:

A substantial meal in a two-week period
A meal with meat, fish or chicken every second day
Two pairs of strong shoes
New rather than second hand clothes
A warm waterproof overcoat
A roast or it's equivalent once a week
Having to go without heating due to lack of money
Experiencing debt problems arising from ordinary living expenses or has availed of charity

Child poverty is a multi-dimensional problem and has knock-on exclusionary effects for children in terms of access to resources and participation in everyday activities such as education and play.