Invitation to Join End Child Poverty Week 2026

The Children’s Rights Alliance End Child Poverty Week 2026 takes place between Wednesday 2 September – Wednesday 9 September.

This event-packed week places a spotlight on child poverty to ensure it remains a political priority throughout budget negotiations. Events will focus on key thematic areas of child poverty, including income, child homelessness, child welfare and protection and the need for increased funding of essential services for children.

Child Right’s Budgeting: Wednesday 2 September (Radisson Blue Royal Hotel, Dublin 8)
Our opening event takes place in-The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin 8. The event will focus on Child Rights Budgeting and ensuring that decision-making around Budget 2027 delivers the best outcomes for children, particularly those experiencing poverty.

Chair: Denise Charlton – Chief Executive, Community Foundation Ireland.

Keynote Speakers:

• Dr Sharon Lambert – Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Psychology University College Cork
• Professor Aoife Nolan – President, Council of Europe European Committee of Social Rights.

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Canavan – Assistant Secretary General of the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division, Department of the Taoiseach
• Dr Gráinne Collins – Policy Analyst, National Economic and Social Council
• Michelle Murphy – Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland
• Tanya Ward – Chief Executive, Children’s Rights Alliance.

Book your place! Registration is now open via Eventbrite here.

Child Homelessness: Friday 4 September (Online, 10.30 am – 12.30pm)
This online event is focused on housing and homelessness. The housing crisis is a critical driver of the high child poverty levels we see in Ireland and with 5,620 children experiencing homelessness, we need to see investment in Budget 2027 to address the long-term impacts the crisis is having on children.

Chair: Fergal Landy – Chief Executive, the Family Resource Centre National Forum and Board Member, the Children’s Rights Alliance.

Keynote Speaker:

• Dr Tricia Keilthy – Head of Policy, Ombudsman for Children’s Office

Speakers:

• Niamh Allen – Head of Advocacy and Research, Focus Ireland
• Dr Fiona Cianci – Consultant, Public Health Medicine (Child Health Public Health), Health Service Executive
• Dr Naomi Feely – Senior Research and Policy Manager, Children’s Rights Alliance.

Book your place! Registration is now open via Eventbrite here.

Child Refugees: Mon 7 September (Irish Architectural Archive, 10.30am – 1.30pm)
This year, End Child Poverty Week takes a closer look at the inadequacy of income supports for children and families experiencing the highest levels of poverty. This event highlights the experiences of children, young people and families in the International Protection system and the pressing need to increase the targeted income supports that could lift them out of poverty.

Chair: Koulla Yiasouma – Chair, Young Ireland Advisory Council and Chair, Board of Management of the Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus.

Speakers will include:

• John Lannon– CEO, Doras
• Louise Bayliss – Head of Social Justice and Policy, Society of St Vincent de Paul
• Lianne Murphy – Senior Equality Officer, Children’s Rights Alliance.

Book your place! Registration is now open via Eventbrite here.

Child Protection and Welfare: Wednesday 9 September (KCYS Killarney, 11.00am – 1.30pm)
For the first time, we are bringing End Child Poverty Week to Kerry. Closing out the programme for the week, this in-person event will focus on child protection, welfare and alternative care and the need to protect and invest in core child protection and family support services that help some of the most vulnerable children in the State.

Chair: Julie Ahern – Director of Legal, Policy and Services, Children Rights Alliance.

Keynote Speakers:

• Kate Duggan – Chief Executive Officer, Tusla – the Child and Family Agency
• Dr Aisling Parkes – Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and Senior Lecturer in Law at the School of Law, University College Cork.

Speakers will include:

• Denise Kirwan – Partner, Child Law Department, Comyn Kelleher Tobin Solicitors, Cork
• Thomas O’Driscoll – Social Worker
• Sinéad Roe – Intensive Family Support Co-Ordinator, KCYS.

Book your place! Registration is now open via Eventbrite here.

For any queries related to the event or the event registration, please contact us at [email protected]

End Child Poverty Week 2026 is now in its fifth year and places a spotlight on child poverty to ensure it remains a political priority throughout budget negotiations. For more information about the events and to book your place, visit the event page here