SVP To Warn Oireachtas Committee That Poverty Is Becoming More Concentrated and Severe for Already Vulnerable Households across the Country

Targeted Budget 2027 measures on disability costs, lone-parent poverty and energy supports are crucial

(Tues 19th May 2026 at 9am) Today, SVP will address the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee and highlight that while headline poverty related figures have improved slightly, poverty is becoming ‘more concentrated and more severe’ for some of the most vulnerable groups in Irish society.

At this Oireachtas Committee, Louise Bayliss, SVP Head of Social Justice will present data from the latest SILC (Survey on Income and Living Conditions) especially relating to older people living alone, one-parent families, households affected by disability, and families trapped in housing insecurity and homelessness. Michael Higgins, SVP National Member Support Manager, will highlight the reality behind the data, based on the lived experience of SVP Home Visitation members.

According to the SILC 2025 data published in March 2026, there is a decline in overall poverty from 5% to 4.7%. However, the data masks a rising inequality as it shows;

• The consistent poverty rate increased significantly for both older people living alone (from 5.2% to 9.6%) and children in one-parent households (from 11% to 13.4%), despite temporary cost-of-living supports remaining in place. Children in one-parent families are now more than three times as likely to experience consistent poverty.
• Households where someone has a disability continue to face a very high consistent poverty rate of 13.9%.
• Housing costs are pushing many more people into poverty: the general at-risk-of-poverty rate rises from 12.6% before housing costs to 19.7% after them, while for households receiving HAP or Rent Supplement it increases from 20.5% to 58% after housing costs.

Speaking ahead of the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee presentation, Louise Bayliss, SVP Head of Social Justice said;
“The latest SILC figures show a deeply worrying rise in poverty among some of the people already most at risk in our society. Older people living alone and children in one-parent families are experiencing significant increases in consistent poverty, even while temporary cost-of-living supports remained in place. Children in lone-parent households are now more than three times as likely to live in consistent poverty. We are also continuing to see unacceptably high poverty rates among households where someone has a disability.”

“At the same time, housing costs are driving thousands further into hardship, with the at-risk-of-poverty rate rising sharply once rent and housing supports are considered, especially for households relying on HAP or Rent Supplement. These figures underline the urgent need for sustained social protection measures, affordable housing, and targeted supports for those most vulnerable to poverty and exclusion.”

Also speaking ahead of the Oireachtas Committee presentation, Michael Higgins, SVP National Member Support Manager, said;
“Our members are increasingly supporting households that simply cannot absorb another rise in rents, energy bills or day-to-day living costs and are being pushed to breaking point. Every day, our members are helping vulnerable households through emergency assistance, energy vouchers and support with utility bills, while we continue to work with utility providers and the energy regulator to strengthen protections for people in financial difficulty, particularly those at risk of disconnection or relying on prepay meters. But without early intervention and stronger supports, many people will face impossible choices between heating their homes and meeting basic needs.”

SVP will urge the Budgetary Oversight Committee to prioritise four key measures in Budget 2027

• Increase targeted income supports for people most at risk of poverty, including older people living alone and lone-parent families.
• Provide extra financial support for households facing unavoidable additional costs, including people with disabilities.
• Protect low-income households from rising energy costs by increasing supports such as the Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package in line with real living costs.
• Prepare for Winter 2026–2027 by bringing Government, energy providers and community organisations together to plan supports before the winter crisis hits.