Community Platform Report Launch- What would it take to eliminate consistent poverty by 2030

ATD Ireland  are a member of the Community Platform.  The Community Platform is an alliance of national networks and organisations in the community and voluntary sector working to address poverty, social exclusion and inequality

The Community Platform recently published the following report, compiled by Nat O’Connor, titled “What Would it Take to Eliminate Consistent Poverty by 2030?”.  Read the full report here.

“Consistent poverty means that a household’s income is less than 60% of the median income and the household also experiences deprivation (meaning that they cannot afford two or more out of 11 necessities). Consistent poverty implies that there is a permanent gap between some people’s incomes and the cost of meeting their needs, with many of them consistently going without basics like home heating, warm clothing or food

The latest statistics from the annual Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) show that the consistent poverty rate was 3.6% in 2023, and the rate was 4.8% for children (aged 0-17). This means that 185,385 people were living in consistent poverty, including 57,840 children.

 Consistent poverty has a deeply negative impact not only on those directly affected, but on whole communities and wider society. Poverty represents a loss of human potential and negative consequences caused by poverty can divert resources into short-term fixes and problem management, rather than long-term solutions that involve structural change towards a more flourishing, inclusive society.”

This report provides clear recommendations and asks parties to commit to the eradication of poverty at Local, European and General Elections.

The Community Platform acknowledges that consistent poverty cannot be fully understood by the available survey statistics alone. That is why this report also includes quotations from people who experience poverty in their daily lives, and from people who work directly with them.

ATD Ireland is delighted to have contributed quotes featured throughout the report. These quotes were primarily drawn from our project “Breaking Barriers: A Participatory Approach to Defining Socio-Economic Discrimination in Real Terms”. Other quotes used were drawn from Age Action’s recent report, “Spotlight on Income in Older Age”.

We encourage everyone to read the report and join the conversation about creating a future free from consistent poverty.

Nat O’Connor has also written a paper for UCD’s Geary Institute for Public Policy, based on this report. See below:

 https://publicpolicy.ie/papers/the-next-government-could-eliminate-consistent-poverty-by-2030/