Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to commend Deputy Whitmore and the Social Democrats on introducing this motion, which I fully support. The fact that more than 200,000 children are living in poverty in Ireland today is a disgrace and is an issue that must be addressed immediately. Children living in poverty miss out on so much; it is very tough on them. They miss out on the things we take for granted such as warm clothes, participating in activities and going on school trips.

Before being elected, I taught in a secondary school in Cavan. Last year, I had a first-year class, and on Thursday, first years were allowed out early before lunch to go to the canteen because it was a particularly busy day. There were five or six students who remained behind because they did not have a hot meal ordered. I asked had they all brought lunch and they said they had, except one little girl. She told me not only did she not have lunch, but she had not eaten since 5 o'clock the evening before. My heart went out to her and I was able, because we were in a DEIS school, to talk to the relevant staff and organise that she would receive a hot meal in future at school. I found out by chance that she had no food. She might not have admitted that to me and she is probably one of many.

Living in poverty affects health and well-being and it increases anxiety and other mental health issues. It means a person is less likely to go to college. If a person is cold and hungry, he or she will not be able to concentrate in school or proceed. Therefore, it becomes a generational issue. There have been some efforts made by Government in recent times to address some of the issues, but it has not been near enough and targets are consistently not being met. One of the issues is the cost of education, which is proving prohibitive. When Donogh O'Malley introduced free education in 1966 he described it as "the one great leveller-upper". I am not sure about his grammar but his sentiment was absolutely correct. However, education is no longer free. Uniforms, books, materials, and transport all cost money. I know there is a back-to-school allowance but it needs to be broadened and increased.

School closures as a result of Covid have been mentioned by others here. Such closures have impacted on poorer children more because of simple things such as access to technology not being available. The supports they receive in school were also absent.

Children of lone parents are four times more likely to be living in poverty than those in two-parent families. Deputy Kerrane has dealt with the maintenance issue but there needs to be a statutory entitlement to seek and receive maintenance in this country, as there is in many other countries. People should not have to constantly go to court to receive maintenance for their children.

There needs to be significant investment in children and families at the beginning of their lives. It would pay dividends and make savings in the long term in areas such as health, the prison system and in relation to other interventions that it is to be hoped will not be needed if children are invested in at the start of their lives.

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