The report finds a sharp rise in child poverty despite strong growth in average household incomes. When housing costs are taken into account, the figures are even more stark: 260,000 children, or 22.7%, were living below the poverty line in 2024.
The report also finds that the Government is very far from meeting its target for reducing child poverty to 3 per cent by 2030. However it is defined, new policy measures will be needed for the Government to meet its official child poverty target.
Co-author Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor in Trinity’s Department of Economics, argues that new policy measures will be required if Ireland is to come close to meeting its child poverty reduction targets:
“Our findings suggest that it is important to account for housing costs in the measurement of child poverty, something the Government’s official 2030 target does not do. Regardless of how it is measured, it is clear that new policy measures - such as a second tier of child benefit – will be needed if the Government is to come close to meeting this target.”