SVP estimate €30 million was spent providing direct assistance to those in financial need last year
By Aura McMenamin
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) said that they spent an estimated €30m in providing direct assistance to those in need last year, and that there is a consistent level of poverty in Ireland, despite the improving economic forecast.
SVP said that they received 130,000 calls for help last year and expect a similar high number of calls in the new year.
SVP National President Kieran Stafford said despite unemployment figures reducing, there were many people now employed in poorly paid or insecure employment.
He also pointed at CSO that show that the level of consistent poverty only slightly improved between 2015 and 2016, and that child poverty levels have not improved.
He said: “The latest CSO figures released just before Christmas show that the level of consistent poverty has only marginally improved between 2015 and 2016, falling from 8.7 per cent to 8.3 per cent.
“However there has been little progress on tackling child poverty as the rate remained virtually unchanged from 2015 at 11.1%.”
According to CSO figures, there are approximately 70,000 more children living in poverty than in 2008.
Mr Stafford said: “While unemployment figures are reducing this masks the reality that many of those now employed are in poorly paid or insecure employment.and consequently struggle to meet essential bills.
Almost one quarter of those experiencing deprivation are at work, demonstrating that employment doesn’t always guarantee a decent standard of living.
Without social transfers such as Jobseekers Allowance, Pensions and Child Benefit 44.9% of the population would be living below the poverty line.”
He also pointed to the many families contacting the charity who find themselves unable to afford rents and are on ‘the brink of homelessness’, or are living in emergency accommodation.
He said: “SVP members continue to meet thousands of families living in private rented sector, trying to keep pace with unsustainable rents and on the brink of homelessness.
“As a result, they often feel they have little choice but to put up with substandard conditions, fearful of eviction.”
TAGS news
