Eurochild evaluates Ireland’s policy approach to combating child poverty and social exclusion

In January 2022, Eurochild released a number of reports containing recommendations for the design and implementation of the Child Guarantee National Action Plans in six countries, including Ireland. The European Child Guarantee is an initiative that guarantees children in need access to key services to prevent and combat poverty and social exclusion. It focuses on access to free healthcare, early childhood education and care, education, among other measures. The EU Member States, including Ireland, are expected to submit their National Action Plans in mid-March 2022 outlining how they will implement this Council Recommendation up to 2030

Ireland’s report is based on assessments provided by the Children’s Rights Alliance. The Children’s Rights Alliance is made up of more than 100 member organisations, including Early Childhood Ireland. Ireland’s report contains details of several different policy priorities.

National Childcare Scheme

The report highlights several points in relation to the National Childcare Scheme.

Firstly, the report acknowledges the financial support provided to parents and that the Scheme aims to narrow the disadvantage gap. The report notes that a departmental review conducted in late 2021 “showed the benefits of the scheme were higher for low-income families and those living in disadvantaged areas”. However, the review also found that “14% of very disadvantaged families said they had less money to spend under the scheme, partly due to the scheme’s higher threshold rates for subsidies”.

Child Poverty Office

The report includes several recommendations including the creation of a national Child Poverty Office to be established jointly between the Departments of Children and the Department of Social Protection. The Office would co-ordinate and monitor a whole of government approach to tackling child poverty.

Lack of data

Ireland’s lack of disaggregated data is also noted in the report, which calls for the development of a set of indicators that monitor the causes and consequences of child poverty and which analyse the impact of policy measures on the lives of children and young people.

DEIS

The report also discusses a number of policy gaps or omissions which exist within current policies. For example, it highlights the importance of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme in tackling educational disadvantage. However, it also notes that half of the children experiencing poverty attend non-DEIS schools.

There are 1,201,635 children in Ireland. Children make up 24.2% of the total population and 23.8% of them are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Good quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) has an important role to play in supporting children’s holistic development and reducing the disadvantage gap. Early Childhood Ireland will continue to highlight the importance and value of these crucial services for children, families and society.

The report is available here. If you have any questions or further details, please contact our policy team.