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Background 

In 2005, 1 in 7 children were living in consistent poverty in Ireland despite continued economic wealth and prosperity in the country. These children were not benefiting from the Celtic Tiger and the Government was failing to address their diverse needs. Poverty was affecting all aspects of their lives; health, education, housing and family income. We examined these broad areas and made succinct policy recommendations that if implemeted would lift these children out of poverty.

Campaign Dates

Autumn 2005

What we did

• Devised a wide public awareness campaign through use of billboards, TV and radio ads to highlight the scale of child poverty in Ireland
• Engaged with children and families to identify their experiences of living in poverty and the solutions to overcoming it
• Launched the 'Seven Steps to Ending Child Poverty' report
• Met key political stakeholders and policy makers to influence Governmental policy

So what happened?

• 2005 - Saw some of our recommendations met in Budget 2006 including the establishment of the Office of the Minister for Children
• 2006 onwards - Ending Child Poverty has continuously remained a core piece of our work and has fed into our annual Children's Budget submissions, the Children's Manifesto and our coalition work with the End Child Poverty Coalition
• Since this campaign we have seen some other recommendations adopted including the raising of the Qualified Child Allowance which had remained unchanged since 1994, greater standards being adopted in the private rented sector, roll out of one year free half day preschool place for all children the year prior to joining primary school

 Useful Documents

Suggested letter to politicians for the End Child Poverty campaign

Children's budget 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

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