One in six now living in poverty

ONE IN six Irish people are now living in poverty despite years of economic growth and unprecedented job creation, says a leading social justice campaigner.

Policy-makers were guilty of following a “fundamentally flawed” development model during the Celtic Tiger era, CORI (Conference of Religious of Ireland) Justice director, Fr Sean Healy, will tell a conference today.

“Despite a decade and a half of prosperity, Ireland finds itself with serious deficits in infrastructure and social services which could and should have been addressed effectively by now,” says Fr Healy.

CORI Justice directors, Fr Healy and Sr Brigid Reynolds, will speak today at the conference Making Choices, Choosing Futures; Ireland at a Crossroads.

They will argue that the positive developments that resulted from recent economic growth have been paralleled by “closely linked negative developments or failures”. They say that while per capita income grew dramatically, 17% of the population still live in poverty, with incomes below €11,400 per year for a single person and €26,400 for a household of four.

Also, while unemployment has dropped, seeing work defined only as paid employment, has resulted in unpaid work such as caring for dependents becoming ignored. “Public policy has failed to address effectively the huge challenges posed by these developments in the new Ireland,” says Fr Healy.

In their presentation today, Fr Healy and Sr Reynolds will outline 10 steps that should be taken now “to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and build a society characterised by right relationships at all levels and in all contexts”.

These include moving towards a “basic income system” for all; recognising all work and not just paid employment; putting economic, environmental and social sustainability at the core of policy-making.

“Values are at the core of decision-making on public policy issues,” says Fr Healy. “The values that underpin public policy should be articulated and debated by all ... before decisions are made. This is especially crucial now as Ireland decides how to use its new-found wealth.”

* www.cori.ie