Government accused of targeting poorest citizens

GOVERNMENT cuts have targeted the poorest and let the richer members of Irish society largely escape, according to the leading European body, the Anti-Poverty Network.

The social impact is getting worse as governments consistently ignore or under-assess the effect of their decisions, the report says.

The EAPN accuses the Government in Ireland of totally dismantling the structures that address poverty at a time when their measures have increased those experiencing poverty by a third.

Lone parents have been particularly badly hit as under the changes made by the Government they must return to the labour market even though they are not offered any help with childcare, training or education or employment opportunities.

“From 2008 to 2009, material deprivation for lone parent families increased by over 20%,” the report said.

The right choices are not being made when it comes to government plans to cut back on budgets.

Spending on social protection is an automatic stabiliser — helping to cut the cost of other services such as health care, says the EAPN.

“In Ireland social protection is totally insufficient to cushion the impact of the crisis. It is one of the first budget lines to be cut. Not improving social protection is in fact increasing poverty and social exclusion, which in turn will increase other costs such as healthcare,” said the report.

It points out that at the same time wealth is on the rise among a small percentage of the population.

The Government tax report of 2009 identified 100 tax expenditure and exemption schemes most of which benefit the better off. “Some of these were addressed in the budget, but most were not”, the EAPN notes.

NGOs are under extreme pressure as their funds have been cut at a time when they are facing increased demands for food and homeless services.