Social Justice Ireland review: ‘Access to health and housing is key to recovery’

Access to health and housing must be established as cornerstones of the economic recovery, according to the annual policy review by Social Justice Ireland.

The think-tank also called on the Government to create a more just taxation system by ensuring all businesses based in this country pay at least 10% corporation tax.

The group’s 320-page review of the economy said there had been a profound failure of governance across many sectors of society and that ordinary workers did not feel they have had a say in the decisions which effect them.

Michelle Murphy, Social Justice Ireland’s policy analyst, said that, following the crash, there were too many people living in insecure housing environments.

She said providing long-term housing to people, by whatever means, is very important for the country.

“Having more than 90,000 households on waiting lists for social housing is totally unacceptable,” Ms Murphy said.

“Government should ensure the supply of social housing, including co-op and voluntary/non-profit housing, on the scale required to eliminate local authority housing waiting lists.”

Ms Murphy said that, in health, progress had been made with the establishment of primary care teams. However, these need more support, she said, adding that they deliver equally to areas and communities.

“The work done on existing teams is very welcome but greater investment is required to ensure they are rolled out to their full potential which will increase the confidence of local communities,” she said.

Social Justice Ireland director Fr Sean Healy said the country had suffered too much because of boom and bust cycles. He said budgetary decisions needed to focus on a sustainable future and avoid the extremes.

“A fairer future is possible but this requires deliberate action now to move towards such a future. Tackling debt, poverty, services, and governance should be the priorities in the years immediately ahead,” he added.