A set of targets to eliminate child poverty has been proposed to the Government by an umbrella group of national organisations campaigning on the issue.
The Open Your Eyes to Child Poverty Initiative proposes the targets in a submission to the current review of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy.
The 10-year strategy published in 1997 sets out goals towards eliminating poverty under key areas including unemployment, educational disadvantage, income adequacy and rural poverty.
An update was agreed under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, and the review is due to conclude by September.
Working groups, with representatives from the social partners, will review targets.
The National Children's Strategy, launched in November 2000, states that for the first time specific targets to eliminate child poverty should be set in the review of the NAPS.
In its submission to the NAPS review on income adequacy, the initiative proposes targets including:
By 2012 eliminate child poverty.
By 2006 the numbers of children living in households with incomes below 50 per cent of the average industrial wage should be halved.
By 2006 no child should live in households experiencing consistent poverty.
This means that no child should live both below the 50 per cent income poverty line and lack any basic needs.
Mr Owen Keenan, the chief executive of Barnardos, which is part of the initiative, said its services "see children and families daily who are being left behind because of inadequate incomes.
"We see families experiencing extreme difficulty, but we also see the heroism of many parents and the courage and determination of families meeting adversity, frequently not of their making.
"Ireland today has the resources to meet the targets outlined to eliminate child poverty once and for all."
The other organisations in the initiative are the Children's Rights Alliance, the Combat Poverty Agency, Focus Ireland, the National Youth Council of Ireland, Pavee Point, People with Disabilities in Ireland and the Society of St Vincent de Paul.