Dear Editor,
The numbers of children experiencing consistent poverty increased last year for the first time since 2006, according to the 26-county State of the Nation's Children report. The report, which is published every two years by the Department of Health, is a compilation of various sources of information on children's lives. It shows progress in several areas including a decline in child deaths and teen births, and an increase in immunisation. However it shows an increase in abuse, poverty, and numbers waiting for social housing. The research has also found that Traveller children, immigrant children and children with a disability or chronic illness fare less well than the general population of children across a range of markers.
This report clearly shows the mismanagement of both the HSE and the Government in tackling child problems. Their failure to plan an end to the poverty and numbers waiting for social housing shows that they are not capable of doing their jobs. The report clearly makes it obvious that the Minister for Health has widened the social gap between the children of those that have and those that do not have.
The new 26-county Government needs to draw up a plan that will eradicate the social gap between children. It needs to get progress reports every six months, not every two years. It needs to analyse where the poverty is coming from. They need to change the structure that operates the child care facilities, that includes removing anyone who is not capable of doing his/her job. To do so will mean starting at the top and working the way down; ie management first. To help the children out of poverty, there can be no jobs for the boys.
Is mise,
Michael Rooney
McHale Road
Castlebar
Co Mayo.
