Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children and European candidate for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion TD, has criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael following the release of figures on child poverty which reveal 260,773 children experienced ‘enforced deprivation’ in 2023.

Teachta Funchion said:

“Children are being failed by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“The figures in the annual Child Poverty Monitor clearly show that the government’s commitment to children is all talk. In spring 2023, then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the government was going to seriously tackle child poverty and set up a dedicated child poverty unit to address persistent and intractable levels of child poverty.

“The reverse has actually happened, and child poverty levels have risen by 31,682 children to 260,773 up from 229,091 in last year’s report.

“It is difficult to comprehend that in 2024 so many children are going to bed hungry. It is a national scandal.

“I have been warning the government that children and young people are at the sharp end of their disastrous handling of the housing and cost of living crises – today’s report further confirms those fears.

“Every day that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael remain in office, the worse things are getting for children. Yet to listen to European election candidates for the government, you wouldn’t even know there was a housing crisis and cost of living crisis causing misery for children.

“Voting for Sinn Féin on 7th June is the first step in getting this disastrous government out of office. A vote for Sinn Féin is a vote for change.”