Press Release 1 May 2012: Government acknowledges rise in numbers in poverty are linked to recent policies and lowers future targets to reduce poverty

European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland

Press Release 1 May 2012

For more information contact Robin Hanan, Director (phone number removed)

Government acknowledges rise in numbers in poverty are linked to recent policies and lowers future targets to reduce poverty

Poverty reduction target reduced downward.

The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland today expressed alarm at a Government report lowering the target to reduce poverty and admitting that the number of people experiencing poverty has risen sharply, partly due to Government policies.

These changes were outlined in yesterday’s Update for 2012 to the European Union on the National Reform Programme, which sets out Government economic and social commitments for 2010 to 2020 (see background note below).

EAPN Ireland Director Robin Hanan said:

“The economic crisis faces us with stark choices about how we use our resources now and what kind of society and economy we want to rebuild

“All parties in the last election promised that their priority would be to ‘protect the most vulnerable’.  This Update is an admission that this is not going to happen.

“Since the adoption of the National Anti Poverty Strategy by the ‘Rainbow Government’ in 1995, the ‘headline poverty reduction target’ has helped to guide budgets and policies and to measure their impact.  This lower target accepts that 180,000 people will not be able to afford basic necessities like heating and two pairs of strong shoes, by 2016 and 90,000 by 2020

“The admission of the link between Government policies in cutting welfare entitlements and poverty is important.  This refers to decisions by the last Government, but changes in the last budget, particularly relating to lone parents, will contribute to increasing poverty..

“The report says that the reduction in the poverty target follows ion last year’s public review of targets, but we are not aware of any submissions to consultation or of any party in the General Election which argued for a less ambitious target to reduce poverty

“The Government should now spell out how it will ensure that future changes will defend the most vulnerable and put the anti poverty strategies back on target.”

The European Anti Poverty Network, Ireland is a coalition of over 300 organisations working against poverty, homelessness and discrimination.

Background

The Update for 2012 on the Irish Government’s National Reform Programme, which sets out plans for economic and social change from 2010 to 2020, was released yesterday.

(The Update is available on http://bit.ly/qYo8JQ.  Pages 15-18 refer to policy on poverty.  It admits that:

“..In the period 2008-2010, numbers in consistent poverty rose from 186,000 to 277,000, representing an increase of almost 50% on the 2008 figure (the baseline year for EU target purposes)”

This means that, in three years, the number of people who could not afford basic necessities such as heating or two pairs of strong shoes has gone up by nearly 100,000 (see note on measuring ‘Consistent Poverty’ below).

The Update aknowledges that this increase is a result of “…almost a trebling of the unemployment rate from 4.5% in 2007 to 13.6% in 2010..” and of “…the programme of fiscal consolidation on social welfare adult and universal child payment rates.”

The Update abandons the plan, announced in 2011, to end consistent poverty by 2016 and adopts a new target of 4% of the population by 2016 and 2% by 2020.

The old and new targets are as follows:

Unlike most of our EU partners, the Irish national poverty target is expressed in terms of ‘consistent poverty’.

Consistent poverty “…identifies the proportion of people, from those with an income below a certain threshold (less than 60% of median income), who are deprived of two or more goods or services considered essential for a basic standard of living.…”

(These indicators are):

“1.    Two pairs of strong shoes

“2.    A warm waterproof overcoat

“3.    Buy new not second-hand clothes

“4.    Eat meals with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day

“5.    Have a roast joint or its equivalent once a week

“6.    Had to go without heating during the last year through lack of money

“7.    Keep the home adequately warm

“8.    Buy presents for family or friends at least once a year

“9.    Replace any worn out furniture

“10. Have family or friends for a drink or meal once a month

“11. Have a morning, afternoon or evening out in the last fortnight, for entertainment”

(from http://www.socialinclusion.ie/poverty.html#consistent

Robin Hanan, Director

European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland

Part of the European Anti Poverty Network.
EAPN Ireland is a network of anti-poverty groups working to put the eradication of poverty at the top of the EU and Irish agenda through information, training, advocacy and networking.

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EAPN Ireland staff e-mail addresses are:
Robin Hanan, Director, robin@eapn.ie

Paul Ginnell, Policy and Support Worker, paul@eapn.ie

Marueen Gondipon, Administrative Assistant, maureen.gondipon@eapn.ie