More than 2 in 5 parents say they've cut back on their own meals to ensure there's enough to feed their children.
The survey by Barnardos, found 41% of parents have cut back on their own food intake to make sure their children have enough to eat. It represents a 12% jump on last year's figures.
The report also found a quarter of families say the rising cost of living, means they've reduced spending on medical costs so they can afford food.
The study also found more parents are borrowing money for food, relying on food banks, and cutting back on spending on other household expenses including clothing, household bills, and children’s activities.
Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly, says these kinds of things shouldn't be happening in a first world country.
" I think what families really struggle with is that they have a range of bills also, which have not reduced or have continued like heat and also things like rent.
"Food is essential, so what families have done is that, if they've had to, they will cut back, particularly parents will cut back on eating themselves in order to feed their children".
Responding to the research by Barnardos, Finance Minister Michael McGrath, says no child or parent should be going hungry.
"I have been surprised in the last number of years that we haven't really seen the uptick in applications that I would have expected given the cost of living and the inflation that we've been dealing with over that period of time.
"So people should reach out and in no circumstances should any child or any parent be going hungry".
The annual research Barnardos and ALDI Ireland Food Insecurity Research report is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults.
1/ Latest annual Barnardos and @Aldi_Ireland research, Food Insecurity in Ireland: Impact on children and their parents, shows number of families who’ve borrowed money to provide food for their family has doubled in two years.
What else did we find? More 👇 pic.twitter.com/lBwKOlbC7H— Barnardos Ireland (@Barnardos_IRL) February 27, 2024
