Sir, – Your article, “Trinity College Dublin research underscores telling impact of child poverty” published in your paper on December 5th, adds to a growing body of evidence that even a short spell living in poverty can harm a child’s development, in this case, their cognitive abilities and behaviour problems.
The research demonstrates something that staff in our services witness on a regular basis – that poverty increases parental stress and reduces parents’ ability to engage in positive activities with their children. Both of which further compound childhood wellbeing and developmental issues by reducing factors which would otherwise help protect children from harm.
It’s clear if Government wants to tackle the impact of poverty on children there must simultaneously be renewed focus on lifting families out of deprivation through increased income supports and improved provision of readily accessible parental supports to mitigate against the harms of poverty. – Yours, etc,
SUZANNE CONNOLLY,
Chief executive,
Barnardos Ireland.