Politicians come together to debate child poverty

The event will be chaired by renowned newscaster, Eileen Dunne and the panel includes Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne, Fianna Fáil; Senator Deirdre De Burca, Green Party; Proinsias De Rossa MEP, Labour; Marian Harkin MEP, Independent; Mary Lou McDonald MEP, Sinn Féin; Senator John Paul Phelan, Fine Gael & Caroline Simons, Libertas.

“One in fourteen children lives in consistent poverty in Ireland today, while one in every six is at risk of poverty. Currently Ireland is ranked 21st out of 27 EU countries on child poverty which is an appalling statistic. We hope this debate will enable representatives from all political parties to discuss child poverty and reveal what their parties aim to do to make Ireland a better place for children,” stated June Tinsley, Policy Development Officer at Barnardos.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the issue of tackling child poverty among politicians, policy makers and the public at large in the run up to the European elections and to promote solutions to ending child poverty. It promises to be an interesting and interactive afternoon.

ECPC has six key policy demands, which we believe, if implemented, will bring us closer to ending child poverty in Ireland. These include:

1) Increase social welfare payments for families

2) Provide access to quality, affordable and flexible Early Childhood and Education

3) Tackle educational disadvantage

4) Increase medical card eligibility for families

5) Ensure every family has prompt access to a secure, appropriate and affordable home

6) Support families in low paid work by enhancing the Family Income Support scheme

The End Child Poverty Coalition is a partnership of seven national non-governmental organisations that have come together to achieve a common goal: to end child poverty in Ireland. The seven partners are Barnardos, Children’s Rights Alliance, Focus Ireland, National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), OPEN - One Parent Exchange and Network, Pavee Point and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien at NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

End Child Poverty Coalition

The Coalition works to promote the implementation of Government commitments to end child poverty, as outlined in policies and strategies including: Towards 2016: Ten Year National Social Partnership Framework Agreement 2006-2016; The National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016; and the Programme for Government 2007-2012.

The Coalition's aim is simple; to end child poverty in Ireland. To do this the Coalition has 3 clear objectives to achieve this aim by raising public awareness to end child poverty, monitoring public policy to end child poverty & developing solutions to end child poverty.