Charity calls on Government to set 'legally binding targets' to tackle poverty in Ireland

From left, Nessan Vaughan, SVP chair, Social Justice Committee; Rose McGowan, SVP national president and Tricia Keilthy, SVP head of Social Justice and Policy at the SVP pre-budget submission on Tuesday. Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

The next Government must set legally binding targets to reduce poverty in Ireland, according to the Society of St Vincent de Paul, which said it expected, for the first time ever, to receive in excess of a quarter of a million calls for help this year.

In its pre-budget submission, it said while the worst of the cost-of-living crisis was now behind most of us, it had left significant lasting damage in its wake which required further Government action to help those in need.

SVP also outlined its priorities for the next Government to take more structural action to tackle poverty in Ireland.

“The cost-of-living crisis continues for people in poverty — low pay, lack of adequate income supports, rising housing costs and homelessness, deprivation among refugees and asylum seekers, unaffordable childcare and lack of transport are just some of the challenges we are facing,” its head of social justice Dr Tricia Keilthy said.

Government must offer hope and show leadership based on the values of human dignity, social justice, equality and the collective good of society. 

"These values must carry through beyond Budget 2025 and into the next programme for government.” 

SVP budget submission highlighted that more than one in three households (37%) have no money left to save, while over 900,000 people regularly go without basics.

Part of the charity’s requests for Budget 2025 include an increase in core social welfare rates by €20, increasing the fuel allowance by €7 a week and extending free school books to senior cycle students.

It came as its submission highlighted that more than one in three households (37%) have no money left to save, while over 900,000 people regularly go without basics.

The charity said it had spent €40m on direct assistance to households, while its expenditure on support with utilities has almost doubled in the space of a year.

With the next election expected sooner rather than later, SVP said there were longer-term initiatives which whoever leads the next government should prioritise to tackle poverty.

This includes enacting a Poverty Act “making Government targets legally binding and place poverty proofing of all Government policy on a statutory basis”.

It called for the introduction of “socio-economic status” as a grounds in equality legislation, while urging the creation of a ringfenced children’s budget.

SVP also called for an end to so-called voluntary contributions for parents in schools, given they can cost families up to €550 a year.

Its national president Rose McGowan added the pressure parents were feeling was particularly acute.

“More and more families caring for children with additional needs are coming to SVP for support with the cost of essentials,” she said. “Over 50% of our conferences received these type of requests last year.

This is a huge gap in State support for children that creates significant stress and strain for families which SVP members step in to address.

“We are meeting more people who are working on low pay and their rents are rising. Low incomes combined with unaffordable and inaccessible services are keeping far too many people in poverty.”