Poverty is not just about not having enough money; it affects a child’s confidence, their sense of safety, and their belief in what’s possible for their future.

At ISPCC our core purpose is to protect childhood and to ensure that every child and young person in Ireland has the right to lead a Better, Happier and Safer life.

Yesterday Fiona Jennings, Head of Policy and Public Affairs and ISPCC and Laura Power, ISPCC Services Manager appeared before the Joint Committee on Children and Equality Child Poverty and Deprivation where they went behind the statistics and shared how child poverty and deprivation reveals itself to the ISPCC on a daily basis and the real and lasting impact it can have on their mental health. 

We can make a real and lasting difference by:

• Ensuring multi-annual funding for community based services and interventions
• Incorporating the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) into domestic legislation to ensure children have enforceable rights. 

 More can be done and more ought to be done to ensure children are better, happier and safer. 

You can listen to Fiona Jennings discuss this further with Cormac Ó hEadhra’s on last nights The Late Debate on RTE Radio here: