June: Social Justice Newsletter, Pre-Budget Preparation
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
Last month we shared with you that we had begun preparing for the annual pre-budget submission report. We included some of our recommendations in last months newsletter, found here.
The pre-budget submission report is complete and with our comms team, who are so important to any of our published documents and external communications, including this newsletter, which we couldn't deliver without them!
In truth, the pre-budget submission is an SVP team effort, from our donors to members to staff. Our recommendations come directly from the support and the need that members meet week in week out in our communities, but central to all our work are those who pick up the phone and trust us in their moment of need.
Our insight is unique, the relationships with those we support gives great depth to our understanding of what drives poverty and the need to call SVP. With our colleagues in Membership, Comms, Fundraising and MESL we are able to deliver the prebudget submission that advocates for a fairer and more equitable Ireland.
Thank you to every one of you who contribute, either through your visitation and membership work or professional input, please join us as Buswells Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday 15th of July 2025, full details in What's on the Horizon.
Speaking Up
Equality
On June 1st, Louise joined the newspaper panel on the Brendan O’Connor Show. She was able to bring an equality lens to the issues of the day. You can listen back here.
Education
An ongoing concern of many members is the high cost of school uniforms and the financial pressure it causes families. In a letter to primary and post-primary schools, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has made recommendations on back-to-school costs, advising schools to use generic uniform items and ensure a competitive process underpins the appointment of any exclusive suppliers for school uniforms and tech devices. The Department of Education also called for something similar in a circular 2017. Louise joined Kieran Cuddihy on the Hard Shoulder on Newstalk to discuss it. You can listen back here.
Covid 19 Evaluation - https://www.covid19evaluation.ie/survey/
The Covid – 19 Evaluation is examining how Ireland managed the pandemic. The evaluation wants to understand how the pandemic impacted people across the country. You may have heard adverts for the survey If you haven't already, please complete the survey and share your experiences, it will take up to 15 minutes.
With organisations such as the INTO, Pavee Point, IONTU, amoung others, SVP were invited to attend the first-round of panel discussions on the response and evaluation of our experiences of Covid-19 and any recommendations on future crisis.
Submissions
NI Social Justice, Income and Employment
UK Government Green Paper: Pathway to Work:
We have responded to the UK Government consultation on its Green Paper ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’. We clearly stated our disappointment in the outlined reforms and our concern at the impact these cuts will have on the people we support. Alongside responding to consultation questions, we call for the government to delay and rethink its planned changes to eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment which is predicted to lead to many more people facing poverty. You can read the full submission on our website.
Department of Children, Disability and Equality on new Statement of Strategy 2025-2027:
We delivered a submission to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on the new Statement of Strategy 2025-2027, due to be published later this year. A significant amount of the households we support are headed by someone with a disability, or have a disabled family member, and so this is a very important issue for us to have an input on. We outlined the strategic goals and actions that we consider to be integral to the new strategy. You can read the full submission here.
Pre Budget Submission to the Department of Social Protection:
This month, we made a pre-Budget Submission to the Department of Social Protection in advance of Budget 2026. On July 17th, we will have the opportunity to meet with the Minister and his officials at the Pre-Budget Forum. We will be using this opportunity to get the right measures in the Budget to protect those most in need. You can read our submission here.
Policy in Focus
EU SILC
2025 marks the end of the ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025'. There is no doubt that the last 5 years have been tumultuous with Covid 19, the war in Ukraine and resulting humanitarian crisis and high inflation causing a cost-of-living crisis.
Despite this, we saw some good progress around the roll out of free schoolbooks, hot school meals and the extension of the fuel allowance. Nevertheless, SILC (Survey on Income and Living Conditions) saw a rise in consistent poverty. Consistent child poverty rates now stand at 8.5% and the rate for older people living alone, went from 2.2% in 2020 to 5.2% in 2024. We have also seen an unprecedented number of families and children in homelessness.
More than ever, we need to see the next roadmap delivering real change, with a whole of Government approach to tackling poverty and achieving Social Inclusion. This month, the Social Justice team made our recommendations on how to achieve this. You can read our submission here.
Behind The Scenes
DEIS Advisory Panel
In the final week of May we were invited to participate in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School (DEIS) Advisory Panel Group held by the Department of Education.
Minister Helen McEntee attended the full morning session, she talked about the importance of developing an ambitious DEIS programme for the future and supporting those children whose lives are not easy because of the poverty they were experiencing.
The attendees consisted of representatives from the primary and secondary school sector and organisations that support the education community, which is why we were invited. They are leading the programme and development of DEIS, including the reviews of the progress so far, it was an opportunity to share our perspectives about a DEIS plus model that has been discussed in recent years and is now being strongly considered. They are also preparing for the budget process, we discussed the importance and targeted supports, but that the universal policies are very positive. The full presentation can be read here.
Launch of MESL 2025 Report:
This month was also a busy time for the Vincentian MESL (Minimum Essential Standard of Living) Research Centre, who are an independent division within the Social Justice Team. This month they launched their MESL Update 2025. The launch received widespread media coverage, and you can read the full report here. This important and timely research will be used by many in the sector as they prepare Pre-Budget Submissions.
Joint letter to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development:
This month, alongside 7 other civil society organisations, we wrote to the members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection calling for a dedicated session on energy poverty ahead of Budget 2026.
We shared two priorities for the Committee’s attention: the urgent need to examine the issue of income inadequacy in light on high energy prices and the level of arrears and energy poverty that persist; and the need to prioritise the expansion of the Fuel Allowance to recipients of the Working Family Payment.
Feedback to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities:
Following an invitation for feedback to the Consumer Stakeholder Group, we provided a written response to the CRU on the need for enhanced customer protection measures this winter, focusing on the needs of the people we assist who are in energy poverty. We outlined our concerns regarding customers in arrears and prepayment customers at risk of running out of credit and ‘self-disconnection’. We will continue to engage on this topic ahead of winter.
Presentation to the Institute of Public Health:
Marcella gave a presentation to staff at the Institute of Public Health (IPH). We provided an overview of the work of the Society as well as the key social justice issues.
We were delighted to meet the team the IPH, who work toward shaping public policy across the island of Ireland, so that everyone has a healthier life, by improving health equity and reducing health inequalities. We look forward to developing and strengthening the links between us going forward. You can view the presentation to the Institute here.
Children in Care FIRST 5 Open Policy Debate:
We attended the FIRST 5 Open Policy Debate organised by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The event was an engaging and informative day with a range of stakeholders attending the packed event at Blackhall Place in Dublin 7.
We participated in breakout sessions involving Early Learning and Care Reforms, Measures to tackle early childhood poverty and First 5 Reflection on Achievements and Future priorities.
We also used the opportunity to highlight some of our specific policy proposals, and our unique experiences of supporting children living in low-income households who are unable to access quality and affordable early learning education and care settings.
What’s on the horizon
Pre-budget submission Launch, Save the Date
Tuesday 15th July 2025
Buswells Hotel, 23-27, Molesworth St, Dublin 2, D02 CT80
Arrival from 10:00 am
Presentations starting at 10:30, and 12:00 finish
A separate invite email will be sent out shortly. But please note the date and book your space when you receive your invitation.
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
All newsletters can be found on our website - www.svp.ie/category/blog/
