Rise in homeless children reflects the dark side of the Celtic Tiger
Green Party Chairman and Health spokesperson John Gormley TD today reacted with dismay to reports that the number of homeless children in the State has risen to almost 500. He said:
“Housing does not feature as a major policy concern in the Government’s National Children’s Strategy but is mentioned instead in a section labelled, “additional needs.” Access to accommodation for children is a fundamental right, not an, ‘additional need’. That the number of children sleeping rough has shown consistent increases over the last number of years – at a time when the economy is well able to reduce the trend – is a sad reflection on this Government’s priorities and the dark side of the Celtic Tiger.
“Like the news yesterday that the UN is critical of Ireland’s attitude towards the protection of children from abuse, these appalling figures show that the weak and vulnerable are paying the price for this Government’s laissez faire attitude towards social policy.”
August 31st, 2006 at 9:16 pm
this subject doesnt get enough of an airing
maybe on a bad news day what passes for newspapers in this country would magnify the problem like they should
if we cant do our best for children when we are drowning in money theres no hope for any of us…….