SVP calls on Government to provide extra supports for people trapped in poverty

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul is calling on the Government to reverse rising rates of poverty by providing extra supports to those in need.

In the poverty charity’s pre-Budget submission, which was published this week, calls were made for a minimum weekly adjustment of €27.50 in welfare rates in Budget 2024.

Other requests in the submission include the introduction of a ‘cost of disability’ payment starting with a €40 weekly payment, and increasing the Fuel Allowance by €680.40.

An increase in HAP and Rent Supplement rates by 40 per cent and provision of funding of €5m to address rent arrears for HAP tenants is also proposed.

The charity is also calling for the delivery of free schoolbooks at second level, and for an end to voluntary contributions by increasing the capitation grant to schools.

The submission also asks the Government to invest to end long waiting times for psychological assessments for children and expand mental health and wellbeing supports to young people.

Other proposals in the document include free access to childcare for families with a medical card, an increase in the grant and income thresholds for SUSI by 15 per cent.

SVP’s head of social justice, Tricia Keilthy, said: “We know our Government is capable of reversing rising rates of poverty and providing supports where they are needed if it chooses to do so.

“The design of our current system of supports is the result of a set of decisions about our society’s priorities and resources.

“At SVP we see that too often, these choices have resulted in people trapped in poverty.

“During the pandemic the government chose to protect people’s incomes with payments that kept families above the poverty line.

“We need this Budget to show the same commitment and redesign the system to work for everyone.

“The focus in the recent Summer Economic Statement on the need to protect low income households is welcome but a continuation of one off supports will not adequately relieve the pressure on those who were already struggling.

“The failure to increase social welfare payments in line with inflation puts many people at risk of being pulled further into the kind of grinding daily hardship that is very difficult to escape.

“Increasingly, we are seeing that work is not always a route out of poverty for families we are supporting.

“Budget 2024 has the potential to change this. Access and participation in employment relies on the strength of services such as childcare, public transport and in-work income supports, as well as decent wages and conditions.”

SVP’s full Pre-Budget Submission is available HERE.

The Government’s Budget 2024 is expected to be announced on Tuesday, October 10 next.

For full access to all content on Echo.ie and to support the continuation of local news and local journalism in your community subscribe HERE.