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Urgent Resources Needed to Tackle Increased Deprivation, National Association of Charities Warn
"Worrying rise of over 200,000 people going without basic necessities since 2021..."
Almost 560,000 people are at risk of poverty, and more than 900,000 are living in enforced deprivation, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today (7 March 2024). This represents a worrying rise of over 200,000 people going without basic necessities since 2021, according to The Wheel, the National Association of Charities.
Groups most at risk of poverty include people living with disabilities (62,143, 27.3%) and the unemployed (36,950, 25.5%). “This is extremely worrying in a country that consistently ranks among the wealthiest in the world”, said Ivan Cooper, CEO of The Wheel.
The latest data shows that tenants are also more likely to be at risk of poverty than people in households where the home is owned.
“The community and voluntary sector is at the coalface of supporting people on the lowest incomes. One in twelve charities has the specific charitable purpose of the relief of poverty or economic hardship, while charities and community organisations in the health, housing and homelessness, child and family services, and community development sectors are under continued pressure to provide supports to those who are most at risk,” said Mr Cooper.
Persistent underfunding of the community and voluntary sector has led to frontline services being asked to do more with less. Many are experiencing a recruitment and retention crisis as salaries fail to keep pace with public sector operators.
“These services provide a lifeline to those on the margins and must be adequately resourced to do this vital work in the face of increasing demand,” said Mr Cooper.
Research by TASC, commissioned by The Wheel and published in 2023, found that the negative disparity in pay for most of the charities average very close to or above 10%, risking the collapse of vital public services. The report also called for funding and other supports to the sector which correspond with the complexity and expansion of needs around housing and homelessness, addiction, disabilities, older people, and the challenges facing young people and low-income families.
“What today’s figures show is that poverty and deprivation in Ireland remains a persistent problem. The valuable contribution of the sector must be recognised, and adequately funded, if we are to effectively address the impact of poverty” says Ivan Cooper.
The Wheel makes the following proposals to secure the future sustainability of the sector to continue to provide this vital work:
- Regularise multiannual funding and ensure adequate funding levels generally
- Provide for the cost of compliance and introduce a Charities Compliance Matching Fund
- Address economic and geopolitical pressures on the sector
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Ivan Cooper, CEO of The Wheel, the National Association of Charities, is available for interviews or to comment. Contact Gert Ackermann on 086 1769287 or email gert@wheel.ie.
ABOUT THE WHEEL
The Wheel is Ireland’s National Association of Charities, Community Groups and Social Enterprises. Our membership includes over 2,300 nonprofit organisations of all types and sizes, including most of Ireland’s leading charities. As a representative voice, we provide leadership to the charity and community sector and advocate on behalf of our growing community of members. As a supportive resource, we offer advice, training and other opportunities to people working or volunteering in the charity and community sector. See www.wheel.ie
