Policy

Barnardos is raising concern as the publication of the long overdue Housing Action Plan has been delayed until September and a further increase in the monthly homelessness figures is to be expected when published this Friday. The number of children in Ireland living in emergency accommodation during the summer holidays is deeply concerning, damaging childhoods and distressing parents across the country.

Barnardos today launched their Cost of Living – Impact on Children 2026 report. For five years Barnardos has monitored the impact of cost of living increases on families and raised the issue, urging the Government to set up targeted actions to protect families and reduce child poverty.

Last year Barnardos children’s charity supported more than 1,000 children across its targeted family support services who had experienced living with a parent with poor mental health. Barnardos today published a report focusing on the impact poor parental mental health has on children in Ireland, the prevalence across the country and actions that could be taken to reduce the resulting childhood trauma and harm.

In response to RTE Primetime Investigates programme – Inside the Care System – Barnardos children’s charity is calling on the Government, the Department of Children Disability & Equality and Tusla to put forward an action-oriented plan with clear timelines that sets out exactly how and when the use of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) will end. The children’s charity has long said that the alternative care system is in crisis with a national shortage of foster and residential placements for babies, children and young people.

Barnardos welcomes the publication of the Deis Plus Scheme and the accompanying additional resources set out this morning by Minister Naughton. It has been very positive to see the Department of Education create such a progressive plan and respond to the calls for additional support from schools and principals in some of the most disadvantaged communities across the country.

Barnardos today issued a report on the impact of acrimonious parental separation and inter-parental conflict on children. The report shows children are placed at risk of experiencing trauma, harm and poorer health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes.

Ireland’s largest children charity Barnardos is calling on the Budget 2026 to help alleviate child poverty.

Barnardos launch a Homelessness Briefing, revealing the harrowing real experiences of vulnerable families living in emergency accommodation.