The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) has released a shocking report about the “unacceptable” levels of child poverty in this country.

 

According to the OCO, the Government is tolerating high levels of child poverty, and is also failing to protect children from violence, homelessness and bullying.

 

The report which was compiled for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child ahead of Ireland’s examination on children’s rights next year, is to be published today.

 

According to the report, since 2008 the number of children living in consistent poverty has increased from 6.8% to 11.7%, and states: “This means that, according to the most recent available data, some 138,000 children in Ireland are living in consistent poverty”.

 

It continues by saying, "[this is] unacceptably high and represents an acceptance of a higher rate of consistent poverty among children than the general population”. The Government’s target of taking more than 70,000 children out of poverty by 2020 has been slammed by the OCO report, which “envisages that as many as 37,000 children could be left living in consistent poverty by 2020”.

 

 

The report is calling on the Government to factor in the increased number of children now living in poverty since the targets were set in 2011 and revise their target.

 

It also states that hotels and B&Bs aren’t appropriate accommodation for children, and says the Government must address delays in social housing and ensure it “is appropriate to children’s needs”.

 

The last time Ireland was before the UN committee was in 2006. 

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