Poverty levels ‘disturbing’ in Ireland, new study reveals

The study shows people being driven into poverty for the first time.

A new seven-country study produced by Social Justice Ireland has revealed “disturbing levels of poverty and deprivation” in Ireland  and other EU countries worst affected by the economic crisis.

The study for Caritas Europa shows an extremely negative impact on the lives of vulnerable people, and reveals that many others are being driven into poverty for the first time.

The report, The Economic Crisis and its Human Cost – A Call for Fair Alternatives and Solutionsis the second annual edition in a series of in-depth examinations of the impact that current policies are having on people in the EU countries worst affected by the economic crisis.

It says Ireland has a very high rate of youth unemployment and one of the highest of young citizens not in employment, education or training. The “at risk of poverty rate” among those between 18 and 24 years in Ireland almost doubled between 2008 and 2011 and currently stands at 26.7%.

Director of Social Justice Ireland, Dr Sean Healy, said the prioritisation by the EU and its states of economic policies, at the expense of social policies, during the current crisis was having a devastating impact.

He warned that “the failure of the EU and its member states to provide concrete support on the scale required to assist those experiencing difficulties, to protect essential public services and create employment is likely to prolong the crisis”.