EUR
STG
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) has said that it is disappointed that the new Programme for Government does not specifically commit to introduce legislation to reduce poverty, particularly child poverty.
According to the Society the Programme does mention setting a child poverty target but does not provide a legislative basis..
In 2023 SVP received just over a quarter of a million calls,(250,198), for help to its regional offices and local Conferences throughout the country. This was a record figure. The 2024 figure was just 0.1% lower at 248,032 making it the second highest number of calls in the SVP’s 180th year in Ireland.
SVP National President Rose McGowan said that the vast majority of the calls came from families with children and the figures indicate how many families continue to struggle with the cost of living. “Food continues to be the issue with the largest number, 36%. Other problems cited when people reach out to SVP for help. included energy, education, clothing, household goods, rent health related costs, unexpected expenses related to home, transport or special occasions such as Christmas.
She went on to say; "As a volunteer organisation we continue to provide as much help as we can and our vision is for an Ireland where by 2030 everyone can live a life free of poverty and is guaranteed an adequate income and access to all the services they need in order to thrive.”
Louise Bayliss, SVP Head of Social Justice and Policy said: “Despite having a wealthy country we currently have over 900,000 people going without the basics in Ireland today and almost 1 in 5 children are living in deprivation. While the new Programme for Government contains many commitments for progress over time, few specifics actions or timetables provided.
“Among our recommendations to the incoming Government was to enact a Poverty Act to make targets and poverty proofing legally binding and also to introduce socio-economic status as a ground for Equality legislation. We also asked for the establishment of a Social Welfare Commission to recommend annual increases and benchmark social welfare rates to a Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL).
“Despite the higher social welfare rates, one off payments and an increase in the minimum wage many people will not be better off this year. For example, the latest MESL analysis (November 2024) shows that households with older children are projected to continue to demonstrate deep income inadequacy, with supports meeting less than 90% of MESL need.
Working-age single adults living alone on the standard Jobseekers rate are also projected to meet less than 90% of MESL need. Similarly analysis applied to those in receipt of Rent Supplement shows that income is estimated to be 83%. Also for a long-term social welfare recipient in a HAP tenancy in Dublin, income supports are projected to meet 76% of the MESL.
“We want the next government to end poverty and these measures would show a firm commitment to better share the wealth that is in our economy with all our people.
“There are measures in the Programme for Government which we welcome, for example retaining the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Unit. The main role of this unit established in 2023 is to monitor the delivery of policy commitments by Departments and their Agencies. We believe that the unit’s role should be expanded, and a ring-fenced budget be created. The new Programme for Government does not mention creating or ring-fencing a Children’s budget. The commitment is only to ‘examine’ ways to lift more children out of poverty.“
