Social crises must be addressed

THERE could hardly be a more bleak picture of Ireland than the scenario depicted yesterday to mark the 30th birthday of the NESC, the national social and economic council.

It portrays a country bedeviled by rampant child poverty, educational disadvantage, inadequate childcare, underdeveloped services for people with disabilities, long-term unemployment, poor levels of training and alcohol and drug misuse.

This damning comment on the failure of successive Governments to grapple with such issues was mirrored on another front yesterday as ISME, the country’s small business group, described an Ireland where the black economy is growing, with racketeering and rogue operators flourishing.