Austerity has reduced safety net for poor and elderly, report says

Austerity has reduced the safety net for the poor, elderly, and even those at work, according to a report from the Council of Europe that poses serious questions about Ireland’s social welfare system, health services and its care of the elderly.

But the Government has been particularly criticised for failing to respond to many of the questions on how they are adhering to the European Social Charter to which they signed up. This meant Ireland could not be assessed in seven areas by the European Committee of Social Rights, while they conformed to just four and failed eight.

Ireland has a history of being one of the poorest countries for engaging with the process, which Colm Ó Cinnéide, responsible for much of the report, said may be down to “not getting their act together.”