SVP: Budget must close poverty gap
The forthcoming budget must close the gap between the people who cannot afford transport and the people who are on waiting lists for luxury cars, it was claimed tonight.
The St Vincent De Paul (SVP) said that in an increasingly divided society, a sizeable group of people were struggling to afford the basic necessities.
“We have on one hand the people we deal with, large numbers of them, and on the other, the people who are willing to wait six months for a new Lexus and are willing to invest a lot of time and money in property overseas. Many of the families we deal with can’t get accommodation and can’t even afford transport, let alone a new Lexus,” said national vice president Professor John Monaghan.
The SVP is calling for the Government to spend a total of €5bn on social welfare increases, tax reform, housing, education and health to break the cycle of poverty.
In a presentation at the National Library in Dublin, it cited the recent UN Development Report which found that Ireland had one of the most unequal societies, with the richest 10% of the population being 10 times more wealthy than the poorest 10%.
Mr Monaghan said people who denied the existence of poverty should look at the SVP’s work, which included a budget of €31m for anti-poverty spending in 2003.
“That’s helping people to pay for doctors, helping people to pay for food and helping them to keep a roof over their head. Sadly the signs are that the need is growing,” he said.
Last year, SVP volunteers made 300,000 house visits, while the number of calls for assistance as increased by 300% in the last two years to more than 18,0000.
The SVP budget demands include:
:: A €17 increase in the adult weekly social welfare rate to €165.80.
:: An €18 increase in monthly child benefit payments for the first and second child to €159.90.
:: A €1.75bn programme over 10 years to accommodate the 60,000 people on social housing waiting lists
:: A €680m fund to provide three and a half hours a week of pre-school education to children in disadvantaged areas.
Mr Monaghan said the Government should reverse its decision to cut off child benefit payments for children of asylum seekers.
“It is unfathomable we would be so mean in respect of this particular group of children,” he said.
