bernie@limerickpost.ie
MORE than 40,000 people in Limerick are living deprivation, it has been revealed.
According to figures from Stabank and Social Justice Ireland, there are about 81,000 people, or 21.8 per cent of the entire population of the Mid West, living with deprivation.
With Limerick being the biggest urban centre in the region and having the highest population density, this would mean there are in excess of 40,000 people suffering.
Social Justice Ireland is an independent advocacy organisation that advances the lives of people and communities through providing independent social analysis and effective policy development to create a sustainable future.
Accroding to its Director Dr Seán Healy, 1.3 million Irish people, or 29 per cent of the population, are experiencing deprivation.
“This means they are going without basic necessities such as heating their home or replacing worn out furniture. Why are these people not a priority for Government as it prepares Budget 2017?” he asked.
“Living standards have been falling for a large portion of the population since 2007 and the deprivation rate has more than doubled, The focus of Budget 2017 should be on investment and not on tax cuts.
“The Government should spend the €1 billion fiscal space on infrastructure, €400 million to deliver broadband to rural areas and €600 milllion towards further implementation of the social housing strategy.
“Investment in infrastructure will have a much better impact on living standards than tax cuts. It will create jobs and support productivity and competitiveness. In turn, this will improve living standards.
“While job creation must be a key facet of government policy, it is in fact social welfare that is the critical weapon in addressing the issue of poverty. Without the social welfare system almost half of Ireland’s population would be living in poverty. Social welfare payments reduced this to 16.3 per cent,” said Dr Healy.
“There has been great focus on getting the economy right, in the belief everything else will follow. This has not worked. This is why Budget 2017 should focus on improving the living standards of all, in order to deliver a vibrant economy and society” said Michelle Murphy, Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland.
“Behind the statistics on poverty, deprivation and low incomes are hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens who are unable to achieve a standard of living that is considered to be the norm for our society”, she said.
