The Government has been urged to prioritise children who are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, neglect, household violence and other forms of trauma.
Long-term effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as harmful substance use, mental health problems and physical health issues costs Ireland 2% of GDP according to the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN).
PEIN, which is a collective of organisations and practitioners advocating for evidence-based responses to childhood adversity, has suggested that the €7 billion spent every year as a result of ACEs, should be offset by prioritising prevention and early intervention in children's lives.
It points out that Irish children aged between six and eleven are subject to a higher rate of poverty than their EU counterparts.
By the end of November 2021, 3,357 children were on the waiting list for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) with 6% of those waiting more than a year to be seen.
In the first year of the pandemic, referrals to Tusla rose by 23% to almost 70,000 cases, with nearly 6,000 children in care at the end of 2020
It also notes recent figures which show 4,000 children waiting for an Assessment of Need regarding access to Disability Services, with an average waiting time of just under 20 months.
PEIN said that when children do not get the supports they need, they can become exposed to stressors that can harm their neurological, biological, and social development.
According to its National Coordinator, adverse childhood experiences such as living with family difficulties like domestic abuse, problem parental substance use, living in poverty or experiencing homelessness or discrimination, increase the likelihood of serious health and social problems in adulthood.
However, Dr Maria Dwyer said that by prioritising prevention and early intervention, "we can turn the tide for children and prevent future health problems, giving all children the best chance of realising their potential".
The added impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused unprecedented changes to societal structures and individual lives have had "an immense impact" on child and family wellbeing, according to PEIN.
PEIN Chairperson Francis Chance said the network focuses on the most effective ways of building a layer of support to stop difficulties from arising in the first place and providing support at the earliest possible stage when they do occur.
"In the aftermath of the pandemic, this means mapping the multiple and changing needs of children and families, supporting services to respond to those needs and advocating for responsive developments in national policy to both meet those needs and future proof against the long-term impact of the global public health crisis," he said.
