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However, SVP remains concerned that the continued reliance on one-off measures leaves households exposed to the ongoing impact of the cost of living.
With over 200,000 children living in enforced deprivation and 70% of calls to SVP coming from households with children, child poverty is a pressing issue of concern for the organisation. SVP warmly welcomes free schoolbooks for the junior cycle and the payment of Child Benefit to students who are 18 and still in school.
In regard to access to further and higher education, SVP has for a long time called for SUSI to be made available to students studying part-time and is pleased to see a pilot scheme will be established to provide supports to part-time students with a focus on lone parents and people with a disability.
Dr Tricia Keilthy, SVP Head of Social Justice, said, "This Budget was a real test of the Taoiseach's commitment to addressing child poverty, and it has delivered on a number of fronts. However, we are dismayed to see the Qualified Payment to the poorest children will only increase by €4, which is well below the recommended increase of €10 for children under 12 and €15 for children over 12. The inadequate increases in core rates will also mean families forgoing essentials as they still grapple with the cost-of-living crisis.
"We are also concerned about in-work poverty among lone parents in particular. The increase in the Minimum Wage is welcome, but significant poverty traps still exist, and not enough support with childcare was targeted to the lowest-income families.
"Poverty is not all about income, but without sufficient investment in income supports, a real living wage and affordable childcare for low-income families, it will be impossible for the Government to meet their own poverty reduction targets.
We regret that the Government has not committed to introducing a weekly cost of disability payment but acknowledges the extra temporary payments for carers and people with disabilities will provide some short-term support.
Overall, it is very much what we feared following last year's Budget when the emphasis was on one-off payments and less on actions that would seriously impact poverty reduction among those in work on low pay and those in receipt of social protection payments."
SVP says the social protection system must move in line with other European countries and benchmark it to an adequate level. Benchmarking the basic rate of social welfare to the cost of a Minimum Essential Standard of Living would mean that rates would never be so low that people are unable to afford essentials such as food, utility bills, housing, transport, basic household goods and having the means to participate in our community.
SVP chair of the National Social Justice Committee, Nessan Vaughen, said: "This year, we saw a 20% decline in back-to-school calls as parents and children saw the benefit of the free schoolbooks at the primary level. While limited, the decision to extend to the junior cycle is very welcome. We are also really glad to see the extension of Child Benefit to students who are 18. In our experience, the cost of 6th year is a contributing factor to early school leaving, and we are hopeful this will make a difference to students experiencing disadvantage next year."
In May, SVP published a report on Voluntary Contributions, and while the increase in the Capitation Grant is welcome, we hope to see this increase go towards relieving the pressure of school charges being placed on parents.
On housing, SVP says the best way to ensure stability and security for individuals and families is to increase the supply of social and affordable homes and wants Housing for All to deliver on its commitments. However, it says the overall budget allocation for homeless prevention is totally inadequate.
SVP Research and Policy Officer Marcella Stakem said: "Our experience shows that one of the biggest drivers of poverty among families today is housing costs, and this Budget is needed to provide much-needed support to keep people in their homes. The increase in rent relief for tenants is welcome, but unfortunately, the Budget is weak on prevention and tenancy sustainment measures. The Housing Assistance Payment, while an important form of support, is not sufficient to meet the long-term housing needs of low-income families. Unaffordable top-ups cause so much distress for the households we assist, and unfortunately, this Budget will not lighten the load for these families."
SVP has sought a dedicated homeless prevention budget, an end to HAP top-ups and a special rent arrears fund to prevent more low-income families from entering homeless accommodation in Budget 2024.
For many households, the energy crisis is far from over and calls to SVP for help with energy are up 60% in 2023 compared to the same time in 2022. The charity says the one-off Fuel Allowance Payment is welcome, but the weekly rate is now effectively frozen for a third year, and the organisation is very disappointed the payment wasn't extended to families who receive the Working Family Payment.
