Social Justice Ireland has called on the Irish government to review all fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally-harmful tax expenditures and remove those that do not align with national climate goals.
Publishing its National Social Monitor: Towards Wellbeing for All, the think tank, founded by Fr Sean Healy, warned that Ireland’s fuel mix for electricity generation is still dominated by carbon-based fossil fuels.
According to Social Justice Ireland, the country is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels for energy, which runs contrary to the targets for reducing emissions, increasing renewable energy, and eliminating dependence on fossil fuels.
The new report analyses the 11 aspects of the government’s well-being framework, monitors the progress being made on them and outlines proposals for improvement.
“We have a lot of work to do to deliver wellbeing for all,” said Susanne Rogers of Social Justice Ireland, adding that Ireland is a country that is still unable to provide secure affordable housing, timely access to healthcare, to support children with extra educational needs and that has almost 595,000 people living in poverty.
The report looks at the impact of mortgage debt burden on those who are most at risk of homelessness and recommends the Government to introduce an equity scheme for borrowers in long term mortgage arrears.
The think tank also highlights that in 2020 the groups at highest risk of poverty included those permanently unable to work due to a long-term illness or a disability and the unemployed.
One in five of those classified as “fulfilling domestic tasks” or home duties, mainly women, has an income below the poverty line.
Separately, Crosscare, the social care agency of the Archdiocese of Dublin, has appealed for help for their Food Poverty Service as hundreds of families are coming to them in need of basic food supplies in the run-up to Christmas.
The Food Poverty Service has met more than 800 families and individuals, including 1,000 children, in the past year.
“For the first time in many years, we are seeing a rise in the number of working families coming to us,” said Joy Walsh of Crosscare.
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