A new study released today has said that all Irish children are not given equal treatment.
The figures which were gathered over ten years show that despite efforts to improve education and health care, our society is still not doing enough for many Irish children.
The ESRI published the 'Growing Up in Ireland' study today and it says we are not living up to standards we should be.
“While we have undoubtedly made huge strides in terms of how we think about and treat children in Ireland, the book presents evidence concluding that we have not lived up to the Proclamation’s resolution to cherish all of the children of the nation equally,” says ESRI’s Research Professor, James Williams.
The research shows that children with one parent are still living at a higher level of disadvantage.
It also says that social class background plays a big part in the attitudes, dispositions and language skills of five-year-olds with their mother’s education and household income also being factors.
And it also can have an effect on a child’s birth weight with 7.9pc of children from lowest income families found to have a low birth weight in comparison to the 4.6pc of children from the highest income families.
“Despite the changing nature of inequality over time, children’s future prospects continue to be shaped by family circumstances,” said co-editor of the research, James Williams.
“Measures existing to help children flourish must be cognisant of the powerful impact of the home environment on child wellbeing and development.”
