Lack of ambition on poverty in Programme for Government a real concern

Posted on Wednesday, 22 January 2025
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Social Justice Ireland welcomes the publication and ratification of ‘Securing our Future’, however we are concerned and disappointed that it does not contain the ambition required to address poverty and income adequacy in a meaningful manner.  This document will shape the policy landscape in Ireland for the next five years and beyond, and while we recognise some positive developments, we also note that there are substantial causes for concern, not least the failure to adequately address poverty and a lack of policy coherence in some areas. 

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The commitment to run progressive budgets through the lifetime of this government is warmly welcomed.  Essential to the delivery of progressive budgets is a commitment to the principle of benchmarking core social welfare rates to average earnings moving towards a system of indexation over time.  Budget 2026, the first budget of the new Government should commit to this principle and make the commensurate increases in core social welfare rates that this requires. 

The failure to acknowledge the scale of poverty and the absence of a commitment regarding an ambitious national target to reduce poverty is very concerning.  With the prolonged and disproportionate impact of the cost-of-living crisis on vulnerable and low-income households, the absence of a clear policy commitment to protect the most vulnerable in Irish society is totally inadequate if we are to build a genuinely fair society.

The commitment to the introduction of an annual cost of disability support payment is welcome and we look forward to engaging with Government to progress this and develop this support payment into a weekly payment over time. 

The lack of ambition on new social housing targets, and housing targets overall is very disappointing. Lack of access to affordable housing is having major negative social and economic impacts, yet there is a lack of urgency in the programme as to how this challenge will be addressed.  Simply maintaining current housing targets will not address the current shortfall of housing stock, pent up demand or future housing need.  Government should set a target of 20 per cent of all housing stock to be social housing by 2040.

The commitment to maintain a broad tax base is welcome.  The first step on the path in the development and maintenance of a broad tax base should be a revised tax take target on a per capita basis to ensure a sufficient tax take.  Our economy and society require strong and well-resourced social infrastructure and services, and clarity regarding on-going resourcing is required. 

Social Justice Ireland's response to the Programme for Government is available here.  

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