Dealing with the consequences of poverty costs the state an estimated €4.5 billion every year
A new comprehensive analysis of the public service impact of poverty in Ireland estimates that dealing with the consequences of poverty costs the state between €3 billion and €7.2 billion annually.
The main estimate of €4.5 billon is more than the respective annual Government budgets for housing, justice, transport, and agriculture.
Entitled
‘The Hidden Cost of Poverty’ the report was commissioned by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) and written by Dr. Micheál Collins, School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin.
The Hidden Cost of Poverty examines the cost of poverty categorised into six broad areas of public policy and expenditure:
- Health Care
- Children and Families
- Education and Training
- Housing
- Gardaí, Criminal Justice and Emergency Services
- Certain Welfare Supports
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