Here, now, in 21st century Ireland, 20% of children are going to school or bed hungry, according to new statistics.
And it has also been revealed that the food poverty rate has risen by 13.2% in three years, from an estimated 450,000 people affected by it in 2010, to over 600,000.
These shameful figures were discussed yesterday at the conference on Eradicating Food Poverty among Children and Young People in Ireland.
The conference was hosted by Healthy Food for All. This organization are calling on the Department of Education to provide a once-off €500,000 payment next year to help schools provide meals to pupils in need.
They also are calling on the Government to invest €2.5 million over a five year period to ensure there is one scheme available in every county.