A new report from the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) shows how the imprisonment of a parent can have a devastating financial impact on families and in particular on childhood experiences.
Separate to the emotional trauma and stigma, if can lead to severe financial and emotional hardship with many households unable to achieve a minimum standard of living, according to the findings.
The report titled 'Paying the Price: The Cost and Impact of Imprisonment on Families in Ireland' was published with a series of findings and recommendations.
The research included a survey of more than 30 families' experiences along with detailed interviews on the effects of a primary caregiver being in prison.
It found that families affected by imprisonment experience major losses in household income and rising expenses, increasing the risk of poverty.
It also states that "existing supports" are fragmented and inadequate, leaving families to rely on charities in many cases.
The challenges of maintaining family contact is also highlighted as well as the structural barriers from childcare concerns to housing insecurity.
Imprisonment of a child's primary carer is recognised as one of the main adverse childhood experiences with long-term impacts on well-being, education and social outcomes.
The most recent estimates from the IPRT revealed that over 5,000 children in Ireland have a parent in prison on any given day, affecting more than 10,000 children annually.
With record prison numbers rising again this year, this figure is now likely to be significantly higher.
The recommendations in this report indicate the need for a coordinated national response that is grounded in children's rights and poverty reduction.
It recommends developing a Child Rights Impact Assessment tool to guide policy and practice across justice, welfare and education systems.
It wants children of imprisoned parents to be recognised as a distinct group needing tailored supports and improved data collection.
The non-governmental organisation is also calling for reform of social welfare eligibility to support single parents and carers affected by imprisonment.
The difficulties around prison visits because of travel costs were also highlighted and the report recommends establishing an Assisted Prison Visits Scheme to support low-income families.
It also advises prioritising non-custodial sentencing where imprisonment would cause serious harm to dependent children.
Many children may not receive Christmas presents - IPRT
IPRT Executive Director Saoirse Brady said the research was significant as it was the first of its kind in Ireland.
"We heard from parents of children whose partner or ex-partner had gone into prison, we heard from grandparents who often have to pick up the pieces and take over the care of their grandchildren when a parent may go to prison, we heard from aunts and uncles who are also taking care of their nieces and nephews," she told RTÉ's News at One.
"People felt that even though they hadn't committed a crime themselves, that they hadn't committed an offence or done anything wrong, that they were still being punished and serving a sentence of their own."
Ms Brady said the research showed that there were significant financial implications for families who have seen a relative go to prison.
"If you're a lone parent, you can access One-Parent Family Payments, or if you're looking after family members' children, you might be able to access a guardian payment. People in this situation have difficulty in accessing those.
"If a partner goes to prison, then you have to wait six months before you can apply for a One-Parent Family Payment, and you might be reliant on another social welfare payment that isn't guaranteed.
"The research also demonstrated that one in four people who took part in the survey experienced a loss of income of over €1,000 a month. That is significant."
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Ms Brady said the financial difficulties experienced by these families is impacting the children involved.
"Alongside the financial impact, they're also looking at the emotional toll that it's taking on children. They've had to reduce household spending.
"This means that there are many children this Christmas who mightn't have presents under the tree, and they also mightn't have that visit to Santa.
"People who were perhaps managing before now may be pushed into further poverty because of that loss of income, and because of them having to juggle so many things for their children.
"We would like the Department of Social Protection to look at what supports could be put in place financially."
Ms Brady admitted that it was difficult to know exactly how many children in Ireland are impacted by a family member going to prison.
"The estimate is 5,000 children a day may be impacted by parental imprisonment, but we don't have accurate data.
"Young Ireland, the national policy framework for children and young people, does recognise that we need to collate and collect this data.
"It does recognise that the Irish Prison Service have to publish a family strategy and that they should be making child-friendly and family-friendly visiting spaces available in all prisons across the State."
