Study finds food poverty an issue for leinster families

Food poverty is still a harsh reality for many families in Leinster with a fifth (21 per cent) of adults worried over the amount of money they have to spend on food. Families with primary school children are more likely to feel the pressure with a third (33 per cent) concerned over their food budget.

A report by Kellogg’s called “Is the Food Divide Getting Bigger?” revealed that the food poverty rate among lowest income households is as high as 11 per cent, while only four per cent of highest income groups cite food poverty as an issue.

Teachers are also seeing the impact of food poverty in their schools with 53 per cent of those surveyed, noticing children arriving at school hungry at least once a week. More shockingly, 77 per cent of teachers said, the number of children coming to school hungry has increased in the last 12 months.

Half of the teachers surveyed also report that 36 per cent of parents have mentioned concerns over their ability to make their food budget stretch to the end of the week, while 20 per cent struggle to fund their family food budget over the weekend. One in five households with children has even had to change their eating habits due to financial constraints, the study found.

Commenting on the findings, June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy, Barnardos said: “We see parents struggling daily to provide enough food for their family and know parents often sacrifice having meals themselves to ensure their children are fed. Arriving to school hungry affects children’s behaviour and mood, impacting on their ability to learn and enjoy interactions with classmates and teachers. If hungry children aren’t given support to thrive it can also have a knock-on effect on the wider class. More widespread availability of breakfast clubs is needed, as they are a proven way to help tackle the issue of food poverty.”