Almost two thirds of parents say their children have to go without essentials such as clothing, heat and food.
That's according to a survey carried out by the children's charity Barnardos, which highlights the impact that recent cost of living increases are having on parents and children across the country. The research found;
- Almost two thirds of parents (63%) stated they and their children had to go without essentials, such as food and heat over the past 6 months due to cost of living increases.
- Over one quarter of parents (28%) have cut back or gone without heat, and almost one in four (23%) have cut back or gone without electricity.
- Over one third stated they have had to cut back on clothes and alarmingly, one in six have cut back or gone without on medical appointments/medicines.
Barnardos CEO, Suzanne Connolly, is calling on the government to introduce a fund to allow families to get support paying for essential bills;
"We're calling on the government to set up a hardship fund which would be administrated through the Department of Social Protection where families can go and get the support they need for basics like food, paying the electricity or putting the heat on."
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