Govt 'has failed to keep its word' to protest most vulnerable

Focus Ireland said today that the Government has failed to live up to its word to protect the most vulnerable in society after today's Budget.

Initial calculations indicate that Budget 2009 will see HSE current expenditure cut by 5% and social housing spending cut by 7%.

The HSE is one of the primary funders for homeless services and Focus Ireland has said it's vital the Government ensures the 5% HSE cut does not hit these services and make the most vulnerable pay a heavy price in the Budget.

Focus Ireland CEO Joyce Loughnan said: "There are up to 5,000 people homeless in Ireland and the most recent figures show over 43,000 households on social housing waiting lists.

"These people were often sidelined during the boom years and now their housing needs are to be put at the back of the queue once again at the very time we enter a recession."

Ms Loughnan said that Focus Ireland, in its pre-Budget submission had called for investment for 10,000 social homes, 6,000 affordable homes and 2,000 new rental accommodation homes.

Focus Ireland said these proposals would meet the needs of first-time buyers on incomes of €50,000 or less as they could gain access to homes under increased provision of affordable housing.

Focus Ireland has supported nearly 700 households to secure a home under its five-year strategy to tackle and prevent homelessness which runs from 2005-2010 but the charity said its housing programme has ground to a halt since last October due to lack of funding.

Ms Loughnan said: "These cuts, representing approximately €1bn in HSE spending and €80m in social housing spending in real terms compared with 2008 figures, will hit the most vulnerable people in society. These cuts are being enacted at the very time there is a rising need for social housing and more people than ever are at risk of becoming homeless due to the recession."

Focus Ireland has called on the Government to ensure that even given the tightened housing resources allocations in the Budget it is impetrative that meeting the housing needs of people who are homeless and tackling the backlog on the social housing waiting lists are made a key priority.

Ms. Loughnan concluded that if the Government is able to provide the banks with a guarantee of more than €490bn, not to mention to billions required for any future recapitalisation, then the State should be able to allocate €4bn - in line with National Development Plan commitments - to help protect jobs, stimulate the economy and provide homes for those most in need in our society.