Many challenges ahead for Ireland

It is difficult for governments to comply with the aspirations of citizens in recessionary times. Everything has a price and cost of care services for the vulnerable continues to spiral.

Since the foundation of the State Ireland was dependent on religious orders in the provision of care. The State simply did not have the money. From the 1980s onwards vocations began to decline and the State was forced to take up the slack. Little by little it had no choice but to face up to its responsibility.

This became less a problem in the boom times but now we are back where we started. Charitable organisations and the private sector have filled the vacuum left by religious orders with costs increasing daily.