SVP calls on Government to announce a Budget for 2015 that invests in our children and young people.

The majority of those helped by SVP are households with children. With more than 200,000 children at risk of poverty in Ireland we must invest in our children and young people so that they are supported to reach their full potential. A failure to do so is storing up costs for the future and consigning many to a future life of poverty.

Ireland’s investment in early years care and education is low by international standards, and parents in Ireland face some of the highest childcare costs in Europe. Government must prioritise investment in quality early years services for the benefit of current and future generations. Government must also support children and young people to stay in education by protecting services like funding for school book rental schemes and the school meals scheme. SVP is also calling on Government to restore Child Benefit to children aged 18 and over who are in full time second level education and living in a low income household.

We must tackle child poverty and intergenerational poverty if we are to have a more inclusive Irish society now and in the future.

Read Full Submission