Dáil debates

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Children's Rights: Motion [Private Members]

 

3:10 pm

Photo of Gino KennyGino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We could not argue with any of the content of the Labour Party motion. In the 100 years since the Democratic Programme of the First Dáil child inequality is now, as it was then, compounded by social class. This is a "C" word we should use more often. Disadvantage is determined by political policy and postal address. Class or location should never define a person’s ability to thrive but class is an economic reality.

The consequences of class-based society mean that 130,000 children still live in consistent poverty. This disproportionately affects single parents and Traveller families. This was compounded by the policy of the then Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, on the one parent family payment in 2012. Many lone parents will never forgive or forget the Labour Party for those cuts. Those deep cuts were social vandalism by the Labour Party, which is supposed to represent working people. The party stabbed people in the back. Those who live and work in the low-wage economy are the working poor, which also affects children.

Other consequences of the class-based society are the nearly 3,500 children who live in emergency accommodation. Anybody would find it quite extraordinary and shocking that 3,500 children have no home but a hotel to live in. This is completely unacceptable. The trauma of this for those children is incalculable. I do not know how the Government Deputies can sleep at night when they know that 3,500 children do not have a home.

There are also waiting times for essential services such as the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

In relation to the scandal of CAMHS, some children have to wait for up to two years for assessment. It is incredible vandalism to visit on children in a society. Incredibly, parents are now brining the State to court on foot of the Disability Act which this House passed in 2005. The Act provides that children must be assessed within a certain period, but the Government cannot meet its six-month deadline. The Government is actually breaking its own laws. That is where children are at today. What does it say about Ireland and the political establishment? What about child poverty and its effect on every individual? Revolutionary socialists must act on the political upheaval in society. Child poverty, homelessness and long waiting times cannot be allowed to be normalised. Tackling child poverty is a task for revolutionary socialists and the people out there who can address this crisis.

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