COMMENT: More action needed to tackle poverty

THANKS to the actions of the Home Sweet Home group and the publicity surrounding the occupation of Apollo House, the scandal of homelessness was placed firmly on the Government’s agenda.

And while the problem is far from solved, you get a sense that the issue will remain on the political radar for the immediate future.

Poverty may well be a factor in homelessness but there are often other elements – such as addiction or mental health problems – that result in people sleeping rough on our streets.

Sometimes, though, poverty is less obvious and those affected by it don’t get the attention they rightly deserve.

With unemployment now back to pre-recession levels, you’d almost be fooled into thinking that the good times are back and the only blip on the economic horizon is that annoying Brexit business.

Last week, the Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) laid bare the true picture. While showing modest improvements in Ireland’s general poverty rates, the rising tide is clearly not lifting all boats.

For instance, the survey showed that poverty among people with disabilities is on the increase, with more than half not able to afford essentials such as adequately heated homes, two pairs of strong shoes, a warm coat or meat on a frequent basis. The figures indicate that people with disabilities in Ireland are at almost twice the risk of living in poverty (34.8 per cent) as the general population (16.9 per cent).

Joan O’Donnell, development manager with the Disability Federation of Ireland, said: 

“Working is not an option for everyone and people have the right to social protection. There must be adequate supports that allow people to live in dignity.”

Meanwhile, One Family, Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone and sharing parenting, also reacted with alarm to the SILC figures. 

Individuals living in households where there was one adult and one or more children aged under 18 had the highest consistent poverty rate at 26.2 per cent, an increase from 25 per cent in 2014. This compares to a consistent poverty rate of 7.7 per cent for two-parent households. Put simply, this means lone parents and their children are almost four times more likely to be living in consistent poverty compared to two-parent households.

One Family has called on the Government to do more to remove the barriers trapping thousands of lone parents and their children in poverty. 

Responding to the figures, its chief executive, Karen Kiernan, said: “Despite many existing measures being taken with the stated aim of helping lone parents return to the workforce, it is clear that these families are not being lifted out of consistent poverty. The Government is still not fully addressing the lived reality of these parents’ caring responsibilities.”

So, as you can see, poverty has not been consigned to the history books for segments of Irish society. 

Hopefully, the latest SILC figures will help guide our politicians so they can implement necessary reform across key areas for those most in need.

t.mccullagh@dublinpeople.com