Report: Majority of households on welfare

The majority of households on social welfare or taking home the minimum wage are in risk of living in poverty, a disturbing report revealed today.

The reality of the actual cost of meeting the minimum essential standard of living in today’s Ireland was uncovered as it emerged five out of six household types are attempting to survive in the midst of the Celtic Tiger.

A mother of six who struggled to feed her family as she faced severe hardship for more than 20 years also challenged a Government minister to live on her income for a week.

Anne Maguire, 56, of Tallaght, has calculated the basic needs of milk and bread totals more than €2,800 a year.

Mrs Maguire said her family faced severe hardship from the time her husband Joseph was forced out of work through ill health in 1982.

During the following years, they were unable to provide the basic needs for the children who are now aged 17 to 31 years. Her husband has since had a heart transplant.

Now a grandmother of five, Mrs Maguire has just two of her youngest children living at home.

Despite returning to education and retraining to work with special needs, she admits she still struggles every week to provide for her family on her income of €450 a week before deductions.

“Up until 1982 life was great, I couldn’t have asked for better,” she said.

“When my husband first got ill I didn’t know who to turn to. We had no money coming in for weeks and we couldn’t borrow.

“Eventually we got social welfare but it was very hard. The children were deprived of a lot of things.

“It is very unfair on the kids when you do not have the money to give them even the basic things. They never got pocket money and they only got clothes when they really needed them.

“We were given food hampers at Christmas because we couldn’t afford anything.”

Mrs Maguire said neither she nor her husband smoke or drink and they never go out socially.

Calculating that her family’s basic needs of five litres of milk a day over a year costs €1,815.87, with bread for one year costing €1,058.50, she called on a Government minister to swap places and her income with her for a day or a week and let them try and survive.

“When people say they can’t afford something I understand what they mean, but Government ministers don’t,” she continued.

“I will swap a day in my life for a day in theirs or swap a week's wages to see how they manage.”

The report was carried out by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ), an organisation led by Catholic nuns who work within the community for social and economic change.

The VPSJ includes the Society of St Vincent de Paul, The Vincentian Congregation, The Daughters of Charity and The Sisters of the Holy Faith.

“A minimum essential standard of living is not possible for five out of six of the households in this study on their present level of income,” said Sr Bernadette MacMahon, VPSJ.

“Many of these households will become trapped in poverty. We now know the true costs of a minimum essential budget for a range of household types in Ireland.

“Our aim is to develop a standard rooted in social consensus – including input from the households themselves – about goods and services that everyone should be able to afford while also drawing on expert knowledge about basic living requirements and expenditure patterns.”

The group recommended the Government increases the minimum wage, pensions, and benchmark social welfare payments to meet the minimum basic cost of living.

Calls were also made for issues to be addressed in the tax credit area, and increase child benefit for all children, making particular allowance for the additional costs of teenage children.

Widow Ellen Reddin, from Ballymun, also found herself in need when reaching pension age last year.

The 66-year-old grandmother said she suddenly found herself having to struggle on a weekly income of €193.30 a week and needs another €90 to stay above the poverty line.

“When I was working I was fine and initially I had some savings, but now I am suddenly finding that I have an income which is impossible to live on,” she said.

“I am having to learn to rob Peter to pay Paul.

“We are told we should be grateful that the pension is going up to €200, I don’t know how anyone can expect to live on that in this day and age.”

The report was praised by Age Action Ireland.

“The research highlights the difficult choices which many pensioners have to make each day,” said spokesman Eamon Timmins.

“If a lone female pensioner is facing a shortfall of almost €90 a week, this means having to choose between food or heat, or maybe not being able to save to have a few euro for Christmas.

“This is deplorable situation to be in at a time of unprecedented wealth. It leaves pensioners with little dignity and undermines their ability to play a full role in society.”