Child Poverty Rises Despite Government Claims | Belfast News

Child poverty in Ireland is soaring, with nearly 30,000 more kids slipping below the official poverty line—now totaling 200,000 children—despite government claims of progress. The ESRI’s strict income benchmark, aligned with EU standards, measures what families can afford after taxes and bills, revealing how housing costs alone are crippling even those earning up to €44,000. Critics argue that recent social programs don’t fully capture the reality, especially as inflation and the loss of energy credits hit low-income households hard. While the government aims for a 3% poverty rate by 2030, experts warn this definition overlooks families struggling with essentials, risking long-term harm to children’s well-being and parents’ mental health. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d8985340b772d49e