A leading children's charity has called on all political parties to back an early referendum in the next Dáil to amend the Constitution to protect children's welfare.
Unveiling its Children's Declarationtoday, Barnardos called on all parties to include key elements to protect children in their manifestos in the run-up to the general election and in any agreed programme for government.
Fergus Finlay, Barnardos
It asked them to adopt measures on constitutional reform, pre-school education, health and child protection.
Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay called on the political parties to incorporate into their party manifestos and eventual programme for government the key elements of constitutional reform, pre-school and education, poverty, health and child protection.
"We have an historic opportunity to make a real and positive difference to a whole generation of children."
The Barnardos declaration calls for cross-party commitment on a referendum early in the life of the new Dáil to amend the Constitution to insert a commitment to protect children's welfare.
It calls for "a full review of child protection legislation to ensure all loopholes are closed and children are protected by law from all forms of abuse and exploitation".
Barnardos also asks all parties to commit to introducing a free, one-year early childhood education place for every child in the year prior to starting primary school. Barnardos says the roll-out of these places should begin with children experiencing disadvantage.
The charity also wants an increase in staff levels at the National Educational Psychological Service to reduce waiting times for educational assessments.
It also calls for an increase in the Qualified Child Allowance payment to boost the incomes of families with children living in consistent poverty.
On health, Barnardos calls for an extension of the full medical card to include families whose total income is taxed at the standard rate of 20 per cent.