PRESS RELEASE
Monday, 14th March 2016
Children’s rights group calls on government to urgently address homelessness and child poverty
-Opportunity for incoming government to make the rights of children and young people a priority -
The most vulnerable children in our society have been left behind, and the incoming government must make children’s rights an urgent priority. That’s according to the Children’s Rights Alliance, which launched its Report Card 2016 today (14.03.2016).
The Report Card is the eighth in the series, and is assessed and graded by an independent panel of experts.The Government is graded on its progress on the implementation of commitments to children under the Programme for Government 2011-2016.
For the fourth consecutive year, the outgoing government has received an overall ‘C’ grade from the Children’s Rights Alliance, reflectinga number of positive developments. However, according to this year’s Report Card, there are a number of key areas within which the Government has continued to fail the most marginalised groups and these need to be urgently addressed.
At today’s launch, Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said: “The timing of this year’s Report Card is unique. It is the first time in eight years that we have issued the findings while there is a hiatus in government. As we eagerly await the formation of a new Dáil, we are calling on the incoming government to ensure that children and young people are a key priority in the Programme for Government negotiations. We need a Minister for Children and Young People with full Cabinet status. This is the only way that we will have a chance to change the lives of children most in need”.
Child Poverty and homelessness
‘Child Poverty’ was awarded an ‘E-’ grade and ‘Child and Youth Homelessness’ dropped to an ‘F’, reflecting the inability of the Government to take decisive action to address this crisis.
Tanya Ward continued: “Our Report Card has, once again, identified child poverty rates which we are facing in this country as a pressing issue that must be addressed (one in nine children is now living in poverty) and the number of homeless children rose by an incredible 90 per cent in the past year alone.We are starting to turn the corner when it comes to child poverty andthe Government published a child-friendly budget for 2016, butthe number of children experiencing homelessness is just not acceptable.
“The impact of the housing crisis has been devastating on families in Ireland and children in particular are suffering disproportionately. Emergency housing that is not family-friendly or child-appropriate can have severely negative impacts on a child – from the distress of upsetting their daily routine, to being removed from schools, friends, community and healthcare.”
According to Ms. Ward: “The current upturn in the economy must not prove to simply push the most vulnerable even further into the margins of society. The last administrationplaced emphasis on improving the infrastructure tosupport children’s rights including the creation of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the introduction of progressive legislation heralding much needed, comprehensive family law reform. However, there are groups of children that have been left behind.”
Grades and Recommendations
According to the Report Card 2016, there are a number of key areas where improvements are needed including patronage and pluralism in education, the rights of Traveller and Roma children, and migrant children.Once again, children found themselves unable toaccess their local primary schools because of theirreligion. Momentum on this issue fell sharply overthe course of the government and the grade for‘Patronage and Pluralism in Primary Education’dropped to a ‘D’.
The situation for ‘Traveller and Roma Children’and ‘Migrant Children’ only slightly improved, receiving an ‘E-’ and a ‘D-’ respectively.The Children’s Rights Alliance is calling for a number of immediate actions including: the implementation of a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the national Roma and Traveller Inclusion Strategy; the delivery of the commitment to recognise Traveller ethnicity; and ensuring adequate and appropriate accommodation is provided to Traveller families by local authorities.Additionally, the Alliance is calling for the publication and implementation of a new integration strategy without delay in order to ensure that no families are living in the direct provision system for any length of time.
Positive Developments: 2015 a landmark year
One ‘A’ grade appears in Report Card 2016, for the first time ever in the area of right to equality and non-discrimination. This reflects a number of important developments including the amendment to the Constitution providing marriageequality for same-sex couples, which has wide implicationsfor LGBT children and young people.
Progressive legislation was enacted in the Childrenand Family Relationships Act 2015 heralding muchneeded,comprehensive family law reform providinglegal protection for children in various family types.As a result, the ‘Inequalities in Family Life’ sectionwas the strongest performer in Report Card 2016.
Other areas doing well include ‘Education’,which has remained consistent under thisGovernment. Within this area,‘School Buildings’ received an ‘A-’ grade andthis sectionhas consistently gained high grades, reflecting progress made and the move away from prefabs across the country. ‘Child Literacy’ gained a ‘B+’ and ‘EarlyChildhood Care and Education’ received animproved ‘B-’ , a significant rise from last year’s ‘D+’ grade, as a result of investments promised inBudget 2016.
In ‘Health’, the roll out of Free GPcare to under-sixes and the commitment to extendthis to under-twelves saw a slight improvement (‘B-’) in‘Primary Care’. Movement on legislation such as thePublic Health Alcohol Bill 2015 and the enactment ofthe Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco)Act 2015 saw the grade in this area rise to a ‘B’.
Tanya Ward added: “2015 was a landmark year in terms of the constitutional amendment on children, the Children and Family Relationships Act, the Children First Act and the marriage equality referendum. It’s crucial that we highlight the positive developments that have been made in this area and also in the areas of literacy, early childhood care and education as well as health, with the roll out of Free GP care.
“We are calling on the next government to translate these positive developments made by its predecessor, uphold its international obligations and make life better for all children – including those who need it most. All children should be cherished equally, and in ayear that we celebrate 100 years since the 1916Rising it has never been a more fitting time to upholdthat statement.”
A number of speakers were at today’s Report Card 2016 launch event, including: CiairinDeBuis, StartStrong; Pat Doyle, CEO, Peter McVerry Trust; Paul Gilligan, Chief Executive, St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services; Professor Aine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education and former Vice-President of University College Cork; and Judge Catherine McGuinness, former member of the Supreme Court of Ireland, and Member of the Council of State.
The full 2016 Report Card from the Children’s Rights Alliance is available at:
ENDS
Contact: Sarah Harte / Louise Archbold, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9858259 / 087-2601145
Note to Editors:
- Available for interview on request:
-Tanya Ward, Chief Executive, Children’s Rights Alliance.
-Paul Gilligan, Chief Executive, St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services.
-Professor Aine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education and former Vice-President of University College Cork.
-Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Dean of Law, University College Cork.
-Judge Catherine McGuinness, former member of the Supreme Court of Ireland, and Member of the Council of State.
- Twitter: @ChildRightsIRL #ReportCard
- Report Card Overall Grades to date:
2009 / D
2010 / D-
2011 / D-
2012 / C+
2013 / C
2014 / C
2015 / C
2016 / C
About The Children’s Rights Alliance
The Children’s Rights Alliance unites over 100 members working together to make Ireland one of the best places in the world to be a child. We change the lives of all children in Ireland by making sure that their rights are respected and protected in our laws, policies and services.