Children living in poverty: some policy decisions are better than others – The Irish Times

Sir, – Your front page headline “Up to 230,000 children lack basic food and clothing” is deeply worrying (News, 5 September). Sarah Burns’ concise and raw analysis of the news from the ESRI’s newly published research is well complemented by Denise Charlton’s hard-hitting opinion piece “More disadvantaged children and families left behind” published the same day.

What worries me most is that the evidence from current research might have said something better if different decisions had been made for last year’s budget.

As a former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I understand all too well that budget time involves making difficult choices between all the things we would like to do, given the resources available.

Last year around this time, ESRI research demonstrated the potential impact of different ways of reducing child deprivation and poverty. Some of the tables were particularly compelling, especially those comparing the estimated impact of budget options between a) a universal increase in child benefit by €38 a month, b) increases for a “qualifying child” (many recipients below the poverty line) of 56 per cent, and c) the introduction of a second tier of child income support for those children most in need, with the potential to lift 40,000 children out of poverty.

The analysis showed that the estimated reduction in children in poverty through the payment of child-specific income support, the “second-tier” option, was significantly greater than any of the other policy options.

Although the Government increased payments for children last year, it did not pursue this policy choice.

It is no surprise, then, that new ESRI research shows that there are almost 30,000 more children lacking basic items and activities for a comfortable life in the state today than in 2022.

In our prosperous country in 2024, shaped by Government decisions alongside the hard work of Irish citizens and residents, evidence has accumulated that some policy decisions are better than others for some of our most vulnerable children.

I sincerely hope that this year’s budget will make the right, evidence-based decisions for the sake of our future generations and our country as a whole. – Yours sincerely, etc.

Dr. KATHERINE ZAPPONE,

(Honorary Member,

Center for Educational Disadvantages,

Dublin City University;

Visiting researcher,

WiSE Center for Economic Justice,

Glasgow Caledonia

University;

Minister of Children and Youth (2016-2020),

Dublin 2.