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Policy Issues Home

A wide range of material on many policy issues is available on this page.  This includes both material and commentary from Social Justice Ireland and material from other sources.  The policy issues are listed alphabetically in the menu on this page.

It’s time to honour a 100-year-old pledge

21st January 2019

On the centenary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann, it is time to reflect on the commitment made by the Irish Government to the children of Ireland.

A Universal State Pension would ensure fairness for Carers

17th January 2019

Society should reward people who have spent their lives in caring roles, but the current State Pension system deprives them of security in their old age. As the rollout of the Government’s Roadmap for Pensions Reform continues, an opportunity to increase the fairness of the Irish pension system is being missed, and at a substantial financial cost.

Homelessness is NOT normal

9th January 2019

Recent commentary that homelessness in Ireland is ‘normal’ is completely without foundation.  As the economy has continued to improve, the homelessness and housing crises have worsened.  Family and child homelessness have increased by over 320 per cent since 2014.  This is not normal, this demands an emergency response.

Refundable Tax Credits needed to help the working poor

8th January 2019

Specific interventions are required to tackle the problem of in-work poverty. Until Government makes tax credits refundable, it will not have an efficient mechanism by which it can address the issue of the working poor.

More than 760,000 people are living in poverty in Ireland, of which over 230,000 are children.

17th December 2018

More than 760,000 people are living in poverty in Ireland, of which over 230,000 are children, despite some small improvements in poverty and deprivation rates.  These are the figures released today by the CSO from the annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions.

Government policy failing to tackle causes - National Social Monitor Winter Edition

3rd December 2018

700,000 on healthcare waiting lists, 500,000 homes without broadband, over 11,000 people homeless – a result of Government policy failing to tackle causes - Social Justice Ireland publishes National Social Monitor Winter 2018.

New Programme for Government must address rampant inequalities in Irish society

16th November 2018

Social Justice Ireland publishes a proposed Programme for Government as part of their 31st Annual Policy Conference in Croke Park.

Acknowledging progress on policy proposals

26th October 2018

We have strongly advocated on economic and social issues and consistently highlighted fair and progressive options that are available to Government within the Budgetary process. Here are some of the policy areas we have consistently highlighted in our budgetary proposals and where progress has been made.

Lack of movement on Jobseeker's rates for young people is disappointing

23rd October 2018

Budget 2019 was an opportunity to fix, or begin to fix, many of the unjust policy moves implemented during the financial crisis. Several policy changes were enacted during that time which were arbitrary in nature: unfair, unjustifiable, and purely for the purpose of saving money. Reducing Jobseeker's rates for young people was one of these.

Impact of Tax & Benefit Changes over this Government's lifetime

19th October 2018

Budget 2019 marks the third Budget of the current Government. We track the cumulative impact of changes to income taxation and welfare over the Government’s three Budgets.

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