Irish Examiner view: People in poverty are left behind

The sad reality is that our problems are generally within our capability to solve, yet show no signs of abating

St Vincent de Paul, at the coalface of citizens’ attempts to keep up, not with the neighbours, but with the bare essentials, has called for a €16-a-week welfare increase to keep pace with the cost of living. File picture: iStock

For a country that dragged itself out of poverty to wealth, we have certainly left a lot of people behind.

St Vincent de Paul, at the coalface of citizens’ attempts to keep up, not with the neighbours, but with the bare essentials, has called for a €16-a-week welfare increase to keep pace with the cost of living. And that’s just the core rate, and not including other allowances that are vital to many people’s survival.