The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth allocated €378,000 to support the development of these pilot plans, aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged children, young people, and their families.

The funded action plans include initiatives in:

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Wicklow, led by the Children and Young People’s Service Committees and Local Community and Development Committees.

Kildare, with similar leadership from the Children and Young People’s Service Committees and Local Community and Development Committees.

Monaghan, also supported by the same committees.

Tipperary, under the same collaborative framework.

Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, expressed her enthusiasm about the funding, saying: “We are thrilled by today’s announcement of funding for four new Local Area Child Poverty Action Plans.”

She highlighted the significance of local efforts in tackling child poverty: “Supporting local talent and communities to combat child poverty is vital to breaking the cycle. Last year, one in five children experienced deprivation.”

Ward emphasized the importance of grassroots solutions, noting, “Child poverty affects thousands of children and families in every county and community.”

She praised the Government’s commitment to addressing child poverty from the ground up, adding, “Our Child Poverty Monitor highlights innovative, local solutions that are well-positioned to address the unique challenges of children and families facing multiple forms of deprivation.”

“To truly end child poverty, we need both national and local strategies.

By providing localized funding, we empower communities to implement targeted interventions that address the complex nature of child poverty.”