'Deeply concerning': Sharp rise in number of children living in consistent poverty in Ireland

Over 100,000 children are now living in consistent poverty in Ireland - an increase of 45,107 compared to the year previous, the Children's Rights Alliance (CRA) have revealed. 

According to the Central Statistics Office, consistent poverty is defined as people who are both at risk of poverty and are experiencing enforced deprivation.

Releasing the results of its annual child poverty monitor, the CRA found the number of children experiencing this form of poverty rose from 4.8% (of all children) in 2023 to 8.5% in 2024. 

Speaking on these findings, Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance said: “A childhood in poverty is one spent in cold, dark and damp housing, travelling hours just to get to school or knowing that there won’t be a hot dinner for the rest of the week. Thousands of families are being forced to live on such tight margins that they live in constant fear of their child needing a hospital visit or getting a letter home about the next school trip.

“What is deeply concerning is the number of children in consistent poverty – who are living in these conditions perpetually–which rose by a staggering 45,107 in 2024 to 102,977. These are children for whom a decent standard of living and aspirations of a better future diminish day by day. This poverty is not inevitable. Policy decisions and budget investments determine the fate of these children and young people." 

However, Ms Ward did note that alongside the concerning figures, there was some positive progress in the report, such as free schoolbooks and hot school meal initiatives as well as free GP care for children under the age of eight. These are now guaranteed supports that all children can benefit from but particularly those experiencing poverty.

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Ms Ward continued: "These have come at the expense of the targeted measures and strategic investment that are critical to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty our children are inheriting. Budget 2026 has to focus on breaking the cycle.”

The report also shows there has been an increase in child homelessness throughout Ireland, with nearly 5,000 children being registered. 

“We only need to look at last month’s figures that show an additional 100 children made homeless to know that the current policy is not working and inflicting untold trauma on the now 4,775 children without a home to call their own. The rise in homeless figures is nothing new. We have seen a year on a year increase every time we publish the child poverty monitor. The combination of rising rents (latest average reaching over €2,000 a month nationally) and a scarcity of supply has resulted in thousands of families being made homeless.

"As it stands, it will take Ireland four-to-five generations to break the cycle of poverty. Children cannot wait that long,” said Tanya Ward. 

She believes that breaking the intergenerational cycle of inequality and disadvantage cannot be done by any one government department or in one budget cycle. It will take sustained investment, across successive budgets. 

"We now need to see this Government go even further than before, and take a determined, ambitious approach to making Ireland the country to break the cycle of poverty in one generation," Ms Ward concluded.