Despite steady overall economic growth, the poorest sectors of society are not reaping proportionate financial benefits, a conference on poverty alleviation organised by the Labour Party heard yesterday.
Although recent trends show a general increase in wealth, "relative income poverty has actually increased," according to Mr Jim Walsh of the Combat Poverty Agency. The actual incomes of the poor had risen, but by less than overall levels.
Mr Walsh emphasised that there was a need to re-evaluate the distribution of wealth through our tax and welfare systems. "The current policy mix is a recipe for perpetuation of income poverty," he said.
This view was strongly supported by Ms Camille Loftus of the National Anti-Poverty Networks (NAPN). "There remain areas throughout the country that the Celtic Tiger has not touched," she said, adding that in an era of economic prosperity, "poverty has become invisible."
She stressed that although a lack of jobs was no longer at the core of the unemployment problem, many people were lacking in the skills required to avail of these opportunities. She expressed concern that these were often quite basic skills.
Almost one Irish adult in four did not have basic literacy skills, she said.
Many low-income parents trapped in the cycle of poverty were prevented from pursuing training and education programmes owing to a lack of affordable childcare facilities, she added.
The NAPN called on the leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn, to argue for a childcare scheme in the forthcoming Budget. Cutbacks in community employment schemes would hit poverty-stricken areas hardest, Ms Loftus said.
Ms Mary Murphy of the Society of St Vincent de Paul said that cutbacks in similar community employment schemes in Northern Ireland resulted in the loss of 118 jobs that had not been replaced.
The elderly and households headed by females were particularly vulnerable to poverty, said Mr Walsh. However, single fathers were also in need of support, said Mr Tony Louth of the Irish Widowers' and Deserted Husbands' Association.