January '26: Social Justice Newsletter
Welcome to the Social Justice Team Newsletter
Welcome to the Social Justice Team Newsletter.
We are delighted to bring you this month's edition. We hope you find it useful and helpful. The newsletter is now available on the SVP website.
In this issue
Introduction
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026. Our apologies as we are a little later than usual, we hope you find it useful and informative.
Speaking Up
Media
2025 Requests for Assistance:
We gathered and analysed our 2025 requests for assistance data, from this a press release was issued which was shared on radio, print and on online on January 21st.
Louise Bayliss, SVP’s Head of Social Justice and Policy, spoke that morning on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, outlining why SVP saw a 6% increase in requests for assistance in 2025.
Christmas Assistance:
A piece in the Irish Independent regarding energy affordability this winter ‘The first true winter bills have only just begun to come out’ – how SVP supports people tackling energy poverty | Irish Independent (paywalled piece, you may not be able to read the full article).
On the 12th of December, Louise Bayliss appeared on ‘The Gathering’ panel discussion with David McCullagh. The discussion included rising costs and the impact on vulnerable households ahead of Christmas, as well as the types of calls for requests that SVP receives. RTE Radio 1.
Then on the 17th of December, Louise was heard on RTE’s Drive Time alongside consumer affairs journalist Conor Pope discussing money management in the lead up to Christmas. The segment focused on financial strain facing families and an increased demand for SVP Support. RTE Radio 1.
On Sunday January 25th, Louise joined the newspaper panel on The Brendan O’Connor show to discuss the news of the week. You can listen back here.
Oireachtas Committees
Energy Affordability:
On December 10th Allison attended Climate, Environment and Energy alongside other civil society groups to support the delivery of a joint statement on energy poverty. The joint statement was delivered by Friends of The Earth which begins 2:07, watched here.
Evaluation of the Impact of the Hot School Meals Programme:
Louise was invited to attend as a witness at the Education and Youth Oireachtas Committee “Evaluating the impact of the hot school meals programme” in mid-January. The video can be watched here, Louise's statement begins around 30 minutes, or you can read the opening statement here.
Submissions
Convention on Education:
We provided our response to a public consultation of the National Convention on Education.
Detailed Design of the Gas PAYG Meter System Replacement Project:
We responded to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities’ detailed plan to replace and update Ireland’s gas PAYG system. The system will affect how these meters self-disconnect, the timings of notifications to households, and suppliers’ ability to support households individually, access the submission here.
The Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026:
The Society of St Vincent de Paul has submitted its recommendation to the EU Presidency. “There is great overlap between our [SVP] values and the values of the EU: human dignity, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights, among others. We strongly recommend that Ireland uses its 2026 presidency of the EU to focus on these values and deliver a European Union that delivers human dignity as part of a Social Europe to revitalise Social Europe, delivering social cohesion and equality across Ireland and the EU.” Click here to read the full submission.
Policy in Focus
Social Justice, Lobbying and Advocacy:
The core of our Social Justice work is lobbying and advocacy. There are many ways we reach out to raise awareness with the aim to engage and involve those who can create change. There are so many ways we do this, letters, emails, reports and meetings.
But key to this is creating a relationship, partnership and co development, sharing our insights and unique understanding of a particular issue. Some policies can take years to lobby for change, it all depends on many different factors such as the size of the change needed, the level of public awareness or motivation for change to name but a few. All of which can shift in a moment's notice. However, we as a team now aim to develop a three-year Social Justice Strategy, this will outline our focus for the short to medium term and align with SVPs wider strategy. Determining what will and should have our focus and how we aim to achieve our social justice policy recommendations.
Behind The Scenes
MESL research:
The MESL (Minimum Essential Standard of Living) research provides critical evidence for what is needed to ensure that all households have an adequate income to meet their essential needs.
The research is used to help inform our own advocacy work, but externally, it is also used by the Insolvency Service of Ireland and is a research partner of Safe Food Ireland on the costs of a healthy food basket.
The MESL team are currently conducting focus groups to update the baskets for single adult households. This periodic review of the baskets is essential to maintain the relevance of the research and follows on from a review of the baskets for families in 2025.
Early Years:
In early December we attended the Children's Rights Alliance - Public Model of early Years and a Child Health Workforce event. We had conversation and questions with two expert panels, and two international keynote presenters the esteemed Professor Sir Michael Marmot (University College London) and Professor Eva Lloyd (University of East London).
On December 17th the Department of Children, Disability and Equality invited us to the launch of 1. Action Plan on Affordable, High-Quality, Accessible Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, Phase 1 and 2. Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare launched by Minister Norma Foley, T.D. We heard about the ways which the department are developing but also simplifying their plans on affordable childcare, processes and administration. Further details and information can be found here.
Homelessness:
The most recent monthly homeless figures were published as usual on the last Friday of the month (30th January 2026) for December, which showed a slight drop from the previous month. This seasonal drop occurs every December, as people are offered temporary accommodation during the festive period by families and friends. The total number of people in homelessness dropped by 262 in December, but year-on-year, increased by 1,870.
Homelessness continues to be a priority area for us and many of our conferences support individuals and families in homelessness. We are members of the National Homeless Action committee chaired by Minister James Browne. In January, we attended a planning day of the Irish Homeless Policy group and will continue to work with our colleagues in the sector.
On January 19th, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage made a public call for submissions to a new Child and Family Homeless Action plan. You can read here about the submission call, which we responded to.
Social Protection:
As members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar, On December 3rd, we arranged a bilateral meeting with the Department of Social Protection and Pillar meetings. We had a very collaborative meeting with the department. We raised our concerns about the delay in the cost of disability payment meetings, the rising impact of energy poverty and the importance of any changes to child benefit being evidence based and ensuring no child would suffer a financial loss.
On December 10th, as members of NOPFA (National One Parent Family Alliance), we met with the family section of the Department and discussed operational and policy concerns related to one parent families.
On January 15th, we along with our social housing team met with management and officers of the community welfare services team. We discussed issues around access to community welfare officers, waiting times and how best to support people in need of exceptional needs payments.
Food Poverty:
In early January, we were part of the launch of the Dublin 10 Food Alliance to address food poverty in Dublin 10. As a member of the Alliance, SVP will support local initiatives and bring these experiences to national policy discussions on social welfare and food poverty. Further details can be found here.
What’s on the horizon
Louise will be providing a response to an important ESRI report webinar launch on February 18th. You can register to attend here.
On February 18th, Allison will be meeting with Lynn Boylan MEP as part of a consultative discussion with other colleagues around energy poverty.
On February 27th, Louise will be involved in a consultation process on the new Child and Family Homeless Action Plan with the Child and Poverty Well-Being Unit the Department of An Taoiseach.
Newsletter Feedback
If you’d like to provide feedback please email socialjustice.newsletter@svp.ie
For those in NI, please get in touch with the team if you have any items you wish to make them aware of socialjustice@svpni@co.uk
