It is a statement of the obvious to say that the two parts of this island have more in common than there are differences. One of the less edifying examples is the persistently high levels of childhood deprivation found on both sides of the Border.
A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published this week and funded by the Department of the Taoiseach’s shared Island unit has found 24 per cent of children in both jurisdictions meet the criteria for deprivation; living in a family that is unable to afford at least two of five basic essentials like paying their bills on time or keeping their home warm.
Levels of childhood income poverty – living in a household with a disposable income that is less than 60 per cent of median national income – do differ between North and South. Income poverty rates have been around 14 per cent in the Republic and 21 per cent in Northern Ireland .
The failure of falling income poverty in the Republic to translate into lower levels of deprivation is attributed to the higher cost of living. Earnings and benefits may be increasing, but they are not keeping up with inflation.
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Differences in how supports are structured in the two jurisdictions may have a bearing. The Republic relies primarily on universal child benefit. Northern Ireland offers a wider range of means-tested benefits. The reliance in the Republic in recent years on once-off payments to deal with spikes in prices rather than linking benefits to inflation may also be a factor, according to the report.
Child benefit appears to be politically untouchable in the Republic and once-off payments are beloved by politicians. As a result, it is hard to see much of an appetite for reform. There is little in the programme for government published this week to indicate otherwise.
The document does contain a commitment to continue to support the North-South Research Programme through the Shared Island Fund. That at least is to be welcomed. It is clear we have something to learn from each other.
