The lack of childcare facilities in Ireland forces many low-income families to rely on social welfare, Combat Poverty said today.
According to the agency, Ireland’s level of subvention for childcare and healthcare for families with children is among the lowest in the EU.
"Lack of childcare facilities leaves many low-income families with little realistic choice as to whether to stay at home and raise their children and rely on social welfare as their main income source, or to engage in education, training or paid work outside the home," said Combat Poverty Director Helen Johnston.
"This is particularly the case for lone parents who face poverty traps in returning to work", said Ms Johnston added at the publication of a Combat Poverty Agency statement to end child poverty.
Speaking this morning, Minister for Social Affairs Seamus Brennan said the issue of lone parents is a "critical area" and one of the groups at highest risk of poverty.
Mr Brennan said: "There are now over 80,000 people in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment at a cost of over €770 million. Included in this group are more than 150,000 children."
"It is time we faced up to the issue of lone parents in an honest, sympathetic and practical way. Lone parents are a resource to this country and not a problem," the Minister added.
Combat Poverty recommended the Government to subsidise childcare, especially for low income and vulnerable families; increase medical card thresholds; and improve the supply and quality of social and affordable housing.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s spokesman family affairs, David Stanton criticised Minister Brennan for being unaware of the extent of child poverty in Ireland.
Mr Stanton said: "The Minister has completely ignored the number of children who live in relative income poverty, meaning they live in households whose income is below 60 per cent of median disposable income. The number of these children is estimated to be over an additional 230,000 children."
"After eight years in power, and at a time of unprecedented monies available to Government, the FF/PD coalition have broke promises on child benefit three years in a row and did not deliver on healthcare or social housing commitments".
"Shockingly, they also have no idea of how many people have been affected by their inadequate policies," he concluded.
