Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)

A motion moved yesterday in the Dáil by the Labour Party called on the Government to take immediate action to address child poverty and child homelessness. The latest ESRI report states child poverty has reached unthinkable levels in Ireland. One in five children is living below the poverty line, and this is when housing costs are factored in. These children are not statistics. We all know there are children below the poverty line going hungry every day and children living in families with a genuine fear of eviction. There are families who feel genuine despair over their future. Over 5,000 children are homeless in Ireland at present. Every day in politics, we have a choice to make. Our motion yesterday offered the Government a genuine opportunity to choose to relieve child poverty and homelessness.

I urge Senators to rethink the untargeted VAT cut in the budget that benefits giant hospitality chains, which will cost €630 million. We know hospitality chains and food giants are going to benefit from the measure. The measure should be targeted and the money needs to be invested in public services designed to lift children out of poverty and to provide them with the support they urgently need.

When Labour moved the motion yesterday, the Government spokesperson claimed child poverty was being addressed through hot school meals. These are really welcome but, unfortunately, there are many areas across rural Ireland, particularly mine, in which the scheme not been rolled out, meaning children are still receiving cold meals.

None of us here believes any child should be evicted into homelessness. We tabled a motion yesterday whose recommendations, if implemented, would ban the eviction of families with children into homelessness. I urge all Senators present to make the choice in question and encourage Government TDs to accept the measures outlined in the motion and stop evicting children.