One in ten children living in poverty
Almost 290,000 people in Ireland- including 10% of all children – are living in poverty, it was revealed today.
Surviving on low incomes, they are deprived of certain basic provisions like food, clothing and heating, according to the Combat Poverty Agency.
Those worst affected are the elderly, children, the long-term unemployed and the sick and disabled.
Launching its 2006 Annual Report in central Dublin, the agency’s acting director Kevin O’Kelly said flexible and responsive public services were needed to tackle the problem.
Martin Cullen, Social Affairs Minister, also attended the event and said the Government was committed to reducing the numbers living in such conditions.
“The extent and effects of poverty and inequality today are not as evident in visual terms as they were in the past, when dole queues and emigration were the defining images,” Mr O’Kelly said.
“Instead it is hidden and often multiple factors such as poor physical or mental health, educational disadvantage, low self-esteem and limited access to quality services that distinguish rich from poor.”
“The worst affected are those not in a position to take up a job: older people, carers, lone parents, children, long-term unemployed and people who are sick and disabled.”
He added that if the target of eradicating poverty by 2016 was to be achieved, as set out by the Government, the state must increase the number of flexible and responsive public services, particularly in the areas of health, education, employment, housing and transport.
“In a wealthy society like Ireland, access to high quality services should not be dependent on income,” he said.
In its report, the agency found countries which spend more on social services enjoy lower levels of poverty.
Research published by Combat Poverty in 2005 found Ireland had low levels of social spending compared with other EU countries.
But Mr Cullen said the Government was committed to eliminating consistent poverty by 2016, adding basic social welfare rates had jumped 123% in the last decade.
“Just 10 years ago, the number of people in employment was 1.4 million,” he said.
“Today that figure is more than 2 million.
“This represents an increase of over 600,000 or 41% in leas that a decade.
“Between 1997 and 2007, basic social welfare rates have increased by over 123%, ” he said.
Combat Poverty, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, is a statutory agency which advises the Government on ways to reduce poverty.
