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Submission
to
the
Department
of
Taoiseach
on
the
National
Reform
Programme
SVP
Social
Justice
and
Policy
Team
April
2016
1
Table
of
Content
Introduction
3
Poverty
4
Inadequate
supports
for
one
parent
families
5
Reform
of
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
6
Housing
7
Social
Housing
8
Security
of
tenure
private
rented
sector
8
Strategic
integrated
approach
8
ECCE,
childcare
and
after
school
care
9
Current
schemes
a
barrier
to
access
9
Sector
pay
scales
10
Quality
10
Education
10
Participation
costs
of
education
a
barrier
to
low
income
families
11
Educational
disadvantage
11
Participation
costs
a
barrier
to
low
income
families
Health
12
Systems
failures
12
Cost
of
prescriptions
12
Energy
Poverty
13
2
Introduction
SVP
welcomes
the
opportunity
to
contribute
its
view
on
the
2016
Government
National
Reform
Programme.
As
the
largest
charity
of
social
concern
in
Ireland
we
have
a
strong
interest
in
ensuring
that
the
voice
of
the
people
our
11,000
members
assist
is
heard
when
policies
and
programmes
are
designed
and
delivered
in
Ireland.
The
SVP
Social
Justice
and
Policy
team
contributes
proactively
as
a
stakeholder
in
the
annual
European
Semester
process
which
Ireland
has
been
part
of
since
exiting
the
bailout.
We
see
the
validity
of
this
Eurozone
framework
for
monitoring,
review
and
correction
where
Member
States
work
together
towards
agreed
social,
economic
and
environmental
goals.
SVP
participates
as
a
stakeholder
in
the
European
Semester
process
and
we
offer
our
analysis
in
an
ongoing
way
at
various
stages
of
this
cycle,
beginning
with
the
Irish
Country
Report
published
by
the
European
Commission
in
February,
the
Irish
Government’s
response
in
its
National
Reform
Programme
and
then
the
publication,
by
the
Commission,
of
Country
Specific
Recommendations
which
signal
where
future
reform
should
be
focused.
While
we
participate
as
a
stakeholder
in
this
process
we
note
that
the
economic
goals
are
part
of
the
Growth
and
Stability
Pact
and
are
legally
binding,
whereas
the
social
and
environmental
goals
are
part
of
the
Europe
2020
Strategy
which
sets
out
headline
and
individual
country
targets
to
be
met
as
part
of
the
European
Strategy
for
smart,
sustainable
and
inclusive
growth.
We
are
conscious
of
the
dominance
of
the
economic
goals
within
these
frameworks
and
are
concerned
that
the
social
and
environmental
elements
have
been
undermined
and
deprioritised.
SVP
wishes
to
see
a
more
balanced
approach
to
future
reform,
investment
and
prioritisation
at
European
level.
We
do
not
believe
that
it
is
appropriate
to
prioritise
one
pillar
of
reform
over
the
others
as
the
three
spheres
(social,
economic
and
environmental)
are
interdependent
and
interrelated.
We
offer
this
submission
at
a
time
of
unprecedented
political
uncertainty
as
the
country
continues
to
be
ungoverned.
SVP
is
concerned
at
the
slow
pace
of
negotiation
for
a
new
Government
which
must
take
up
very
pressing
challenges.
A
strong
stable
Government
is
needed
to
focus
on
the
delivery
of
a
fair,
inclusive
and
sustained
recovery
for
Ireland.
SVP
is
particularly
concerned
for
those
people
who
have
been
worst
affected
by
previous
austerity
measures,
rationing
and
cuts.
We
know
that
there
are
thousands
of
people
who
continue
to
struggle
who
are
not
experiencing
the
so
called
recovery.
Throughout
2015
SVP
received
more
than
2,300
calls
for
help
every
week.
These
calls
come
from
families
and
individuals
who
find
themselves
in
situations
where
their
own
resources
whether
material,
physical,
social
or
psychological,
are
insufficient
to
get
them
through
the
problems
they
encounter.
We
note
the
observation
in
the
2016
Irish
Country
Report
that
the
level
of
public
investment
in
Ireland
is
under
the
Euro
area
average
and
that
tax
cuts
have
been
prioritised
over
investment
by
the
Government.
SVP
is
very
clear
that
without
social
investment
Ireland
cannot
meet
its
Europe
2020
targets.
We
understand
that
a
coherent
and
deep
commitment
to
tackle
the
long
term
structural
inequalities,
which
have
been
exacerbated
by
years
of
austerity
budgets,
must
be
prioritised
to
make
inroads
into
the
deep
lacunae
of
disadvantage
and
inequality
experienced
by
3
rising
numbers
of
people
in
Ireland.
We
know
that
this
will
need
sustained
investment
over
a
series
of
budgets.
SVP
wants
to
see
a
balanced
and
integrated
approach
to
long
term
social
planning
and
investment
to
provide
appropriate
service
provision
to
meet
the
emerging
demographic
trends
(for
example
rising
student
numbers,
growing
cohort
of
over
65
year
olds)
which
will
create
additional
demand
for
services.
This
submission
is
SVP’s
response
to
the
policy
issues
raised
in
the
Irish
Country
Report.
SVP
will
continue
to
lobby
Government
to
make
appropriate
choices
to
invest
in
quality
public
services
which
will
result
in
better
outcomes
for
its
citizens.
We
outline
our
priorities
to
the
Irish
Government
which
we
hope
will
inform
the
content
of
the
Irish
National
Reform
Programme
for
the
European
Commission.
Poverty
Through
its
work
with
those
in
need
SVP
is
very
familiar
with
the
various
manifestations
of
poverty,
exclusion
and
deprivation.
Our
11,000
members
work
closely
with
those
who
experience
hardship
and
the
many
thousands
who
live
their
lives
struggling
on
inadequate
incomes.
In
2014
there
were
over
751,000
people,
16.3%
of
the
population,
living
on
an
income
which
put
them
at
risk
of
poverty,
with
the
numbers
living
on
below
60%
of
median
income
up
from
14.4%
in
2008.
We
are
mindful
that
the
at
risk
of
poverty
figure
for
a
single
person
was
€238.69
a
week
in
2008
and
this
reduced
to
€209.39
in
2014
as
incomes
dropped
in
that
period.
SVP
is
deeply
worried
at
the
levels
of
people
suffering
consistent
poverty,
at
8%
or
369,000,
twice
as
many
as
in
2008.
We
note
also
that
in
2014
one
in
5
people
at
work
suffered
deprivation,
while
that
number
was
one
in
14
in
2008.
The
cohort
most
helped
by
SVP
is
lone
parents
many
of
whom
heavy
caring
responsibilities,
are
low
skilled
and
who
have
been
inactive
in
the
labour
market.
Lone
parent
households
with
one
or
more
children
have
the
highest
rate
of
consistent
poverty
at
22%
and
59%
of
this
cohort
suffer
material
deprivation.
These
are
very
worrying
statistics
for
us.
The
level
of
child
poverty
continues
to
cause
concern,
particularly
the
fact
that
there
are
currently
134,000
children
in
consistent
poverty.
The
fact
that
29%
of
the
population
experienced
material
deprivation
in
2014,
more
than
double
the
numbers
than
in
2008,
is
a
major
cause
for
concern.
SVP
notes
that
the
Irish
Government’s
child
poverty
target,
set
in
2014,
is
to
lift
over
70,000
children
out
of
consistent
poverty
by
2020.
In
order
to
achieve
this,
a
more
integrated
and
holistic
approach,
interdepartmentally,
needs
to
be
adopted
to
lever
better
outcomes.
SVP
observes
that
the
Irish
Country
Report
focuses
on
low
work
intensity
and
jobless
households,
which
clearly
are
very
high
by
EU
standards.
However
research
carried
out
by
the
Economic
and
Social
Research
Institute
confirms
that
the
vast
majority
of
people
are
better
off
in
a
job
than
in
receipt
of
a
social
welfare
payment.
A
much
wider
approach
than
the
focus
on
replacement
rates
as
a
disincentive
to
work
is
needed.
• SVP
wishes
to
see
the
European
Commission
using
the
frameworks
and
tools
of
the
European
Semester,
such
as
the
Irish
Country
Report
and
the
Country
Specific
Recommendations,
to
proactively
tackle
the
stark
increase
in
poverty
in
Ireland
in
recent
years.
• SVP
recommends
that
the
European
Commission
extends
its
efforts
to
push
the
Irish
Government
to
focus
on
more
integrated
ways
of
tackling
social
exclusion
and
high
poverty
4
rates
by
investing
in
critical
public
services
and
ensuring
adequate
incomes
for
those
on
the
lowest
incomes.
The
overarching
policy
framework
for
children
and
young
people
Better
Outcomes,
Brighter
Futures
contains
a
number
of
transformational
goals
and
commitments
with
regards
to
investing
in
public
services
and
income
supports
which
must
be
implemented
in
order
to
tackle
Ireland’s
stubbornly
high
child
poverty
rate.
Focusing
on
jobs
alone
as
a
pathway
out
of
poverty
is
too
narrow
a
lens
through
which
to
achieve
Ireland’s
Europe
2020
poverty
target.
• SVP
wants
the
Irish
Government
to
commit
to
ensuring
that
adequate
income
supports
and
good
quality
public
services
in
the
areas
of
housing,
education
and
health
are
accessible
to
the
people
such
as
those
we
assist,
whether
they
are
in
employment
or
in
receipt
of
social
welfare.
Inadequate
supports
for
one
parent
families
It
is
of
continued
concern
to
SVP
that
Government
is
pursuing
a
clear
policy
direction
with
regard
to
the
activation
of
lone
parents
while
removing
in
work
income
support
payments
and
without
supplying
the
appropriate
level
of
quality
childcare
and
after
school
places.
We
are
very
worried
at
the
high
level
of
consistent
poverty
in
lone
parent
households.
We
note
the
lack
of
policy
coherence
in
Government
policy
which
has
resulted
in
59%
of
lone
parent
households,
or
three
in
five
of
these
families,
experiencing
deprivation.
Qualitative
research
carried
out
by
SVP
called
It’s
the
hardest
job
in
the
World
1clearly
shows
the
strong
desire
of
most
parents
to
combine
paid
employment
with
caring
for
their
children.
However
the
kind
of
employment
that
parents
were
willing
and
able
to
take
up
had
to
fit
with
the
needs
of
their
children,
the
availability
of
childcare
and
after
school
care
and
access
to
in-‐work
income
supports
such
as
Family
Income
Supplement
and
the
Back
to
Work
Family
Dividend.
Flexibility
from
employers
was
also
required.
A
lack
of
inter
departmental
and
whole
of
Government
approach
persists,
with
Departments
operating
in
isolation
and
not
examining
the
cumulative
effect
of
how
their
programmes
affect
the
cohorts
they
are
targeting.
While
the
Irish
Country
Report
does
note
the
role
of
social
transfers
in
mitigating
poverty
at
a
generic
level,
the
absence
of
a
deeper
analysis
of
how
the
lack
of
appropriate
income
supports,
childcare
and
after
school
care
supports
negatively
impacts
on
the
ability
of
parents
with
low
earnings
potential
to
take
up
training
or
work
is
worrying.
SVP
knows
that
Ireland
needs
an
ECCE,
childcare
and
after
school
sector
which
enables
families,
especially
lone
parents,
to
be
supported
in
their
work
life
balance,
where
the
best
interests
of
children
and
their
outcomes
is
paramount
and
where
the
critical
early
years
of
a
child's
life
are
enhanced
by
access
to
the
best
quality
care
and
education.
The
sector
must
in
particular
play
an
important
role
in
combating
child
poverty
by
ensuring
that
those
most
in
need
of
these
supports
receive
them
where
and
when
required.
1
https://www.svp.ie/getattachment/0dfc3b0e-‐9165-‐4792-‐946e-‐43f84199eb57/It-‐s-‐The-‐Hardest-‐Job-‐in-‐The-‐
World.aspx
5
Reform
of
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
Better
Outcomes,
Brighter
Futures
is
the
National
Policy
Framework
for
Children
and
Young
People.
This
policy
document
outlines
a
number
of
transformational
goals
and
improved
outcomes
which
will
be
sought
for
children
and
young
people
between
2014
and
2020.
Better
Outcomes,
Brighter
Futures
acknowledges
that
all
aspects
of
public
policy,
including
social
welfare
payments,
impact
on
the
various
dimensions
of
parenting.
The
framework
also
recognises
that
some
children
require
full-‐
time
parental
care,
however,
the
reforms
to
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
run
counter
to
this
for
lone
parents.
Ensuring
economic
security
and
tackling
child
poverty
are
key
priorities
in
Better
Outcomes,
Brighter
Futures,
however
it
is
clear
that
reducing
the
incomes
of
working
lone
parents
and
making
it
more
difficult
for
them
to
take
up
education
or
training
will
only
serve
to
increase
child
poverty.
Greater
policy
coherence
is
needed
between
the
outcomes
and
goals
set
out
in
Better
Outcomes,
Brighter
Futures
and
the
consequences
of
the
reforms
to
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
Policy
which
have
worsened
the
circumstances
of
many
one
parent
families
and
children.
The
main
impacts
of
the
reform
of
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
which
have
been
introduced
over
the
past
few
years
have
been
to
reduce
the
income
of
lone
parents
in
employment;
and
to
reduce
the
likelihood
of
lone
parents
who
are
not
in
employment,
education
or
training
to
take
up
work
or
education
in
the
near
future.
As
previously
stated,
70,000
children
must
be
lifted
out
of
consistent
poverty
if
Ireland
is
to
meet
our
child
poverty
target
under
the
Europe
2020
strategy.
Poverty
in
one
parent
families
must
be
addressed
in
order
to
meet
this
target.
Most
of
the
changes
impact
negatively
on
lone
parents
who
are
already
in
employment
and
can
be
summarised
as
follows:
• The
One
Parent
Family
Payment
(OFP)
and
Family
Income
Supplement
(FIS)
are
payable
together
to
lone
parents
who
are
in
employment
and
who
meet
the
conditions
for
both
payments.
However,
Jobseekers
Transition
(JST)
or
Jobseekers
Allowance
(JA)
is
not
payable
with
Family
Income
Supplement
to
lone
parents
in
employment.
This
results
in
a
major
loss
of
income
for
lone
parents
in
employment
who
qualify
for
FIS
when
their
eligibility
for
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
ends.
It
also
means
that
much
reduced
in-‐work
income
support
is
available
to
lone
parents
of
older
children
who
are
considering
taking
up
employment.
• The
Back
to
Work
Family
Dividend
is
only
a
temporary
support
and
families
who
are
nearing
the
end
of
their
eligibility
for
this
payment
are
very
concerned
at
the
impact
that
this
loss
of
income
will
have
on
their
family.
• The
earnings
disregard
for
Jobseekers
Allowance
is
lower
than
that
for
OFP
and
JST.
This
means
that
a
lone
parent
in
employment
who
moves
from
JST
to
JA
will
see
a
reduction
in
their
income.
• Self-‐employed
lone
parents
who
lose
the
OFP
cannot
qualify
for
Family
Income
Supplement.
• Lone
parents
who
wish
to
take
up
education
and
are
receiving
OFP
or
JST
can
retain
their
social
welfare
payment
and
receive
a
SUSI
maintenance
grant
as
long
as
they
are
not
6
receiving
Rent
Supplement.
However,
lone
parents
in
the
same
situation
but
in
receipt
of
JA
cannot
undertake
an
educational
course,
and
must
instead
transfer
to
the
Back
to
Education
Allowance
(BTEA).
The
maintenance
grant
is
not
payable
with
BTEA.
SVP’s
specific
recommendations
to
ensure
income
adequacy
for
one
parent
families
include:
• Make
Family
Income
Supplement
payable
with
the
Jobseekers
Transition
payment.
This
would
benefit
lone
parents
in
employment
up
until
their
youngest
child
is
aged
14,
when
childcare
costs
are
usually
the
highest.
• Restore
the
earnings
disregard
for
the
One
Parent
Family
Payment
to
€146.50
per
week
and
increase
the
earnings
disregard
for
Jobseekers
Transitional
Payment
to
€146.50
per
week.
This
would
support
lone
parents
to
take
up
employment,
and
would
be
particularly
helpful
for
lone
parents
who
do
not
qualify
for
FIS.
• Make
Jobseekers
Transitional
Payment
and
the
SUSI
maintenance
grant
payable
to
eligible
lone
parents
who
are
undertaking
an
educational
or
training
course
for
the
duration
of
the
course,
regardless
of
the
age
of
the
youngest
child
in
the
family
and
regardless
of
whether
or
not
the
family
is
receiving
Rent
Supplement.
This
would
overcome
the
difficulty
faced
by
lone
parents
of
children
aged
over
14,
who
must
transfer
to
BTEA
in
order
to
take
up
an
education
course.
It
would
also
address
the
anomaly
whereby
lone
parents
in
education
who
are
in
receipt
of
Rent
Supplement
must
transfer
to
the
Back
to
Education
Allowance
in
order
to
retain
their
Rent
Supplement
but
who
then
cannot
access
the
student
Maintenance
Grant.
This
would
provide
additional
supports
to
lone
parents
seeking
to
improve
their
earnings
potential
in
the
medium
and
longer
term
through
engaging
in
education.
• Make
the
Jobseekers
Transitional
Payment
available
to
lone
parents
until
their
youngest
child
has
completed
their
education.
This
would
allow
a
social
welfare
support
to
be
available
to
lone
parents
who
are
not
in
a
position
to
seek
full
time
employment,
even
though
their
youngest
child
may
be
over
14.
These
parents
might
seek
part
time
employment,
or
combine
JST
and
FIS
with
some
paid
employment,
and
would
benefit
from
the
more
favourable
earnings
disregard.
This
would
recognise
and
support
the
parenting
responsibilities
and
the
costs
faced
by
parents
of
teenagers.
• Implement
the
commitment
to
provide
a
single
subsidised
childcare
scheme
from
2017
for
pre-‐school
and
school
going
children,
with
simplified
eligibility
and
availability
across
private
providers
and
childminders.
This
would
begin
to
address
the
deficits
in
availability,
quality
and
affordability
of
childcare
for
parents
on
low
incomes.
Housing
It
is
estimated
that
between
25%-‐30%
of
the
population
as
a
whole
require
some
support
in
meeting
their
housing
needs,
as
they
are
unable
to
meet
their
housing
need
from
their
own
resources
alone.
One
of
the
most
visible
manifestations
of
the
housing
and
homeless
crisis
is
the
stark
increase
in
7
family
homelessness.
In
March
2016,
there
were
912
homeless
families,
with
1881
children
homeless
in
Ireland,
living
in
emergency
accommodation,
including
hotels
and
bed
and
breakfasts.
Social
Housing
The
Social
Housing
Strategy,
Social
Housing
2020,
provides
for
the
provision
of
110,000
units
of
social
housing,
70%
of
which
are
to
be
in
the
form
of
social
housing
supports
provided
to
renters
in
the
private
rented
sector
and
30%
to
be
provided
in
real
social
housing.
The
Housing
Assistance
Payment
and
Rent
Supplement,
rather
than
social
housing
units,
are
to
be
the
main
mechanism
by
which
social
housing
need
is
to
be
met.
SVP
challenges
this.
The
reliance
on
the
private
rented
sector
to
meet
social
housing
need
over
the
past
two
decades
has
been
an
abject
failure,
and
is
a
direct
cause
of
the
increase
in
family
homelessness.
We
believe
that,
while
there
is
a
role
for
a
well-‐regulated,
affordable
private
rented
sector
in
meeting
social
housing
need
in
the
immediate
term,
a
return
to
the
build
and
acquisition
of
social
housing
by
local
authorities
and
approved
housing
bodies
is
the
only
solution
to
the
housing
and
homeless
crisis
which
Ireland
is
facing.
• SVP
requests
a
reversal
of
the
direction
set
out
in
Social
Housing
2020,
where
70%
of
social
housing
supports
are
to
be
provided
via
HAP
and
Rent
Supplement
to
a
commitment
to
meet
70%
of
social
housing
need
through
the
provision
of
social
housing
units.
• SVP
recommends
an
increase
in
the
Rent
Supplement
and
Housing
Assistance
Payment
limits
to
realistic
levels
as
a
temporary
measure
to
prevent
homelessness.
Security
of
tenure
private
rented
sector
Improved
security
of
tenure
for
tenants
in
the
private
rented
sector
is
also
necessary.
The
National
Economic
and
Social
Council
proposes
greater
rent
certainty
for
tenants
through
a
“disciplined
market-‐sensitive
form
of
regulation
and
adjustment”
as
part
of
a
package
that
includes
more
favourable
tax
treatment
of
rental
income
and
measures
to
enhance
the
supply
of
affordable
rental
accommodation.
The
impact
of
the
measures
included
in
Stabilising
Rents,
Boosting
Supply
(the
package
of
measures
designed
to
improve
security
of
tenure
and
increase
supply
in
the
private
rented
sector
announced
by
Government
in
November
2015)
have
yet
to
be
assessed
but
are
most
apparent
for
sitting
tenants.
• SVP
recommends
measures
which
will
ensure
that
the
private
rented
sector
is
affordable
for
new
tenants,
including
those
moving
out
of
homelessness
Strategic
integrated
approach
SVP
would
welcome
a
stronger
focus
on
what
remedial
steps
and
plans
exist
and
how
they
combine
to
help
tackle
the
deficits.
• SVP
wants
to
see
a
stronger
and
more
strategic
focus
on
a
whole
of
Government
approach
to
meeting
both
the
EU
and
Irish
targets
and
in
particular
the
European
Commission's
concerns
would
be
useful.
8
ECCE,
childcare
and
after
school
care
Research
from
a
rich
variety
of
sources
shows
that
good
quality
Early
Childhood
Care
and
Education
(ECCE)
has
a
positive
influence
on
children's
long-‐term
development
and
achievement.
Despite
strong
international
evidence
showing
how
beneficial
quality
care
is,
childcare
in
Ireland
is
very
expensive,
poorly
resourced
and
is
variable
in
quality.
Until
recent
years,
investment
in
the
sector
has
not
been
a
priority
for
Government.
A
good
quality
ECCE
and
after
school
care
infrastructure
will
enhance
Ireland’s
competitiveness
and
attractiveness
by
providing
appropriate
and
quality
supports
for
families
when
they
need
it.
Unfortunately
the
present
model
has
evolved
from
a
market
perspective
with
expensive
fees,
variable
quality
and
a
regulatory
system
which
focuses
on
health
and
safety
issues
and
not
children’s
development.
In
recent
years
Government
devised
contingency
based
programmes,
in
a
piecemeal
and
unintegrated
way,
offering
targeted
support
to
specific
groups
unable
to
afford
the
market
rates
charged
by
the
private
sector.
While
the
Inter
Departmental
Group
Report
on
Investment
in
Childcare
2has
provided
options
for
how
to
improve
the
sector's
quality
and
capacity,
this
will
require
sustained
commitment
to
a
serious
level
of
investment
which
the
new
Government
must
embrace
and
honour.
Current
schemes
a
barrier
to
access
The
targeted
childcare
and
afterschool
care
programmes
currently
offer
a
confusing
array
of
schemes,
with
different
eligibility
criteria,
catering
for
slightly
different
target
groups.
These
schemes
have
different
policy
objectives,
with
parents
sometimes
finding
themselves
eligible
for
more
than
one
scheme,
which
may
or
may
not
be
available
in
their
vicinity,
as
places
are
not
always
available
where
they
are
needed.
As
a
provider
of
childcare
and
after
school
care
SVP
sees
at
first
hand
the
design
flaws
which
post
administrative
barriers
for
both
providers
and
service
users
and
block
those
in
need
of
childcare
and
after
school
supports
accessing
this
critical
support.
The
targeted
schemes
are
rigid,
with
inflexible
entry
points
and
eligibility
criteria
and
are
neither
family
nor
provider
friendly.
Parents
are
very
dependent
on
local
supply
which
varies
greatly
across
the
country.
The
issue
of
supply
is
a
serious
barrier
as
there
are
capacity
issues
at
provider
level
which
must
be
solved
before
these
schemes
can
be
made
available
countrywide.
Research
clearly
indicates
that
access
to
good
quality
care
can
mitigate
the
negative
effects
of
growing
up
in
a
poor
or
vulnerable
household.
It
is
therefore
imperative
that
Government
policy
helps
low
income
families
access
this
critical
support
rather
than
rationing
it
through
a
series
of
poorly
designed
schemes
which
do
not
achieve
the
policy
objectives
of
providing
quality
affordable
accessible
childcare
and
afterschool
care
to
support
these
families
In
particular
SVP
is
most
concerned
at
the
lack
of
policy
coherence
in
explicit
activation
of
lone
parents
without
adequate
childcare
and
after
school
places
to
support
these
mothers
access
either
training
or
work.
The
very
underdeveloped,
and
currently
unmapped,
after
school
sector
must
be
2
http://www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/earlyyears/20150722IDGReportonEarlyYrsInvestmentReport.pdf
9
tackled
as
a
priority
if
the
needs
of
families
with
older
primary
school
children
are
to
be
adequately
met.
Sector
pay
scales
Current
low
pay
rates
in
the
sector,
close
to
the
National
Minimum
Wage
and
below
the
‘Living
Wage’,
with
poor
or
no
paid
leave,
are
unsustainable
for
workers.
The
sector
must
be
supported
to
deliver
appropriate
pay
rates,
with
paid
leave
and
profession
specific
progression
pathways.
Quality
Quality
must
become
embedded
in
all
settings
and
programmes.
As
the
Learner
Fund
is
the
current
mechanism
to
achieve
improvements
in
qualification
levels,
a
commitment
to
sustained
investment
in
the
Fund
must
be
made
to
support
National
Framework
of
Qualifications
level
7
and
8
students.
Without
sustained
investment
in
learning,
staff
cannot
progress
to
higher
qualifications
and
children
will
not
receive
the
quality
of
care
and
education
they
deserve.
SVP
wants
a
sustainable
State
subsidised
model
of
funding
which
is
affordable
and
which
delivers
beneficial
outcomes
for
children
and
quality
provision.
This
model
must
ensure
that
the
State
links
funding
to
the
achievement
of
quality
measures
and
higher
workforce
qualification
levels.
We
fully
support
the
position
of
the
Inter
Departmental
Group
Working
Group
on
Future
Investment
in
Childcare
in
Ireland
in
rejecting
tax
reliefs
or
credits
as
a
viable
approach
to
solving
the
sector's
major
challenges
of
supply,
affordability,
quality
and
work
force
development.
Tax
relief
to
parents
will
not
solve
the
sector's
critical
issues.
SVP
has
a
number
of
recommendations
for
improved
outcomes
in
the
sector:
• Formally
commit
to
bringing
Ireland’s
investment
in
early
years
care
and
education
from
the
current
low
base
of
less
than
0.2%
of
GDP
to
the
OECD
average
of
0.8%,
over
a
series
of
budgets
to
create
an
affordable
quality
early
years
care
and
education
sector
• Resource
and
develop
quality
affordable
after
school
care
provision
• Deliver
the
committed
to
single
subsidised
childcare
scheme
scheduled
for
2017,
replacing
the
current
schemes
• Deliver
a
full
year
paid
parental
leave
for
new
parents
• Invest
in
quality
to
ensure
that
it
is
embedded
in
all
settings
and
across
all
programmes
Education
SVP
is
aware
that
the
Irish
level
of
investment
in
education,
at
4.1%
of
GDP,
is
one
of
the
lowest
in
Europe.
This
has
had
an
impact
on
class
size
and
pupil
teacher
ratios,
with
Irish
primary
school
class
sizes
the
largest
in
Europe.
Measures
and
programmes
to
protect
and
facilitate
access
and
progression
by
minority
disadvantaged
groups
were
cut
during
austerity
budgets.
Cuts
to
programmes
and
roles
such
as
the
Traveller
Resource
Teacher
allocation,
School
Completion
Programme,
Educational
Welfare
resulted
in
severe
cut
backs
in
the
level
of
support
available
to
those
in
most
need
of
help
to
stay
attached
to
education.
These
cuts
have
had
a
negative
impact
on
vulnerable
groups
and
have
deepened
long
term
social
exclusion.
This
creates
the
need
for
more
expenditure
in
the
longer
term
due
to
necessary
remedial
programmes
and
revenue
foregone
due
to
10
unemployment.
In
particular,
disadvantaged
second
level
students
have
been
particularly
hard
hit
by
the
reduction
in
career
guidance
teaching
hours
which
means
that
they
are
being
denied
access
to
adequate
and
quality
guidance
at
a
pivotal
time
in
their
young
lives
when
they
need
assistance
to
make
appropriate
and
feasible
course
choices.
The
reduction
in
career
guidance
teacher
hours
has
had
a
very
negative
effect
with
a
direct
link
between
poor
choice
of
study
and
high
drop-‐out
rates
at
third
level.
Educational
disadvantage
SVP
notes
that
expenditure
on
the
School
Meals
Programme
has
grown
from
€4
million
in
2006
to
€39
million
in
2015.
We
see
great
potential
for
this
programme,
if
leveraged
and
configured
correctly
and
driven
by
a
clear
interdepartmental
approach,
to
secure
more
and
better
outcomes
for
DEIS
pupils.
We
see
the
need
for
greater
policy
coherence
with
regard
to
how
the
scheme
is
designed
and
implemented.
• SVP
recommends
an
interdepartmental
departmental
forum/group
or
organisation
be
set
up
to
drive
greater
returns
from
the
School
Meals
Scheme
given
the
numbers
of
departments
involved;
DES,
DCYA,
DES,
DH,
DSP
and
Agriculture.
Through
its
educational
work
in
disadvantaged
areas
with
schools,
communities
and
families,
SVP
members
understand
the
value
of
responsive
and
innovative
initiatives
such
as
the
School
Completion
Programme
which
engages
with
hard
to
reach
students,
particularly
those
most
at
risk
of
early
school
leaving.
• SVP
recommends
safeguarding
of
the
budgets
of
programmes
working
with
hard
to
reach
pupils,
such
as
the
School
Completion
Programme
which
delivers
positive
outcomes
for
vulnerable
students.
Participation
costs
of
education
a
barrier
to
low
income
families
Educational
outcomes
continue
to
be
very
clearly
linked
to
economic
status
in
Ireland.
The
participation
costs
of
primary,
second
level,
third
and
further
level
education
continue
to
put
families
on
low
incomes
under
financial
strain
with
subsequent
poorer
outcomes
for
progression
and
achievement
for
those
who
cannot
afford
these
costs.
There
have
been
very
poor
inroads
made
into
improving
the
much
poorer
progression
and
retention
rates
at
third
level
for
those
on
lower
incomes.
Access
continues
to
be
very
clearly
linked
to
income
levels
in
Ireland
with
the
lowest
levels
of
progression
from
students
from
a
disadvantaged
background,
low
and
semi-‐skilled
manual
worker
occupation
groups.
With
regard
to
the
third
level
sector,
much
more
needs
to
be
done
to
stop
the
systemic
exclusion
of
students
on
income
grounds.
Funding
to
universities
has
fallen
by
38%
in
seven
years
with
equipment
and
facilities
falling
into
disrepair
while
cuts
to
Maintenance
Grants
and
rises
in
income
thresholds
for
grant
aid
have
been
implemented
every
year
since
2010.
The
sector
is
viewed
by
many
stakeholders
as
unfit
for
purpose
due
to
rising
student
numbers,
lowering
of
quality
outcomes
and
a
serious
deficit
in
funding.
The
gap
in
educational
attainment
and
qualifications
between
socio
economic
groups
has
not
been
bridged
despite
two
National
Action
Plans
on
Equity
in
Third
Level,
with
the
third
such
plan
launched
in
December
2015.
A
closely
anticipated,
but
delayed
report,
on
funding
options
for
third
level
is
awaited,
which
must
tackle
the
serious
concerns
and
shortcomings
in
the
sector.
Whichever
funding
model
for
third
level
is
proposed
and
implemented,
SVP
11
recommends
that
it
must
include
both
an
adequate
maintenance
grants
system
and
a
more
equitable
and
transparent
means
test
which
takes
assets
into
account
when
calculating
eligibility
for
financial
support.
• SVP
knows,
through
its
ongoing
direct
support
to
many
families
for
education
purposes,
that
low
income
students
must
be
supported
and
encouraged
adequately
by
the
new
system
to
allow
them
both
to
access
third
level
and
be
able
to
sustain
an
adequate
standard
of
living
while
studying,
if
a
genuine
increase
in
the
numbers
of
low
income
and
disadvantaged
students
accessing
and
gaining
third
level
qualifications
is
to
be
achieved.
Health
SVP
remains
deeply
concerned
that
despite
higher
than
average
%
spend
of
GDP
on
health
in
Ireland
there
continue
to
be
a
very
steep
social
gradient
where
outcomes
remain
very
starkly
predicated
on
ability
to
pay
for
access
to
diagnosis
and
treatment.
Ireland’s
hybrid
model
of
health
care,
unique
in
Europe,
whereby
many
people
pay
for
health
care
at
point
of
use
results
in
income
related
health
inequalities
which
consign
those
unable
to
pay
for
care
onto
long
waiting
lists
in
the
underfunded
and
resourced
public
system.
SVP
notes
the
scale
and
scope
of
the
current
health
reform
programme,
as
does
the
Irish
Country
Report,
but
we
know
that
for
many
thousands
of
people
on
modest
and
low
incomes
paying
for
health
care
is
something
that
they
simply
cannot
afford.
This
can
result
in
in
inappropriate
admissions
via
Accident
and
Emergency
when
their
health
issue
become
unavoidably
chronic.
It
is
common
knowledge
that
A
&
E
units
are
currently
very
overcrowded
due
to
upstream
discharge
problems
related
to
insufficient
available
beds
in
the
community.
A
survey
conducted
by
the
Irish
Nurses
and
Midwives
Association
found
that
numbers
of
patients
on
trolleys
waiting
for
a
bed
in
a
ward
in
March
2016
was
a
100%
increase
on
the
figures
for
March
2008.
The
long
standing
problems
with
the
failed
and
not
fit
for
purpose
General
Medical
Scheme
(Medical
Card
Scheme)
are
well
known,
long
standing
and
create
very
poor
outcomes
for
some
very
vulnerable
patients.
We
note
with
concern
that
there
are
now
490,500
now
people
waiting
for
treatment
or
assessment
in
the
public
hospital
system
with
6,100
waiting
over
a
year
and
a
half
to
be
seen,
72,881
waiting
for
inpatient
or
day
case
treatment
and
399,086
who
have
been
referred
by
their
GP
but
who
are
waiting
to
be
seen
by
a
consultant
or
in
an
outpatient
clinic.
Systems
failures
The
persistent
and
ongoing
trends
of
poor
planning
and
management
wherein
the
HSE
continues
to
overspend
its
budget
(this
year
the
overspend
has
already
reached
€250
million)
alongside
the
re-‐
allocation
of
budgets
from
services
in
need
of
investment
(for
example
€12
million
of
the
€35
million
has
just
been
diverted
to
other
areas)
cause
grave
concern.
As
does
the
ongoing
failure
to
address
the
chronic
shortage
of
critical
staff
which
continues
to
pose
serious
consequences
for
patient
care,
throughput
and
eventual
discharge.
12
We
note
the
various
phases
in
the
introduction
of
the
Integrated
Financial
Management
System,
particularly
the
activity
based
funding
model,
and
understand
the
necessity
for
such
a
robust
MIS
and
financial
architecture
to
deliver
gains
across
a
very
expensive
health
system.
We
remain,
however,
very
concerned
at
the
lack
of
joined
up
thinking
and
information
sharing
within
the
various
primary
care
services
which
hinder
optimal
outcomes
for
patients.
• SVP
recommends
that
more
investment
in
primary
care
teams
and
networks
needed
to
achieve
the
paradigm
shift
to
preventative
care.
Since
the
launch
of
the
Primary
Care
strategy
in
2002
this
area
of
health
care
has
received
insufficient
funding
and
this
is
seen
in
the
oversubscribed
and
underfunded
services.
• While
SVP
supports
the
drive
for
efficiencies
in
the
HSE
administration
and
welcomes
the
plan
to
implement
activity
based
funding
across
all
Directorates
over
a
period
of
time,
it
is
concerned
that
a
much
more
patient
focused
approach
is
needed
to
put
patients
at
the
heart
of
care
whether
in
acute,
primary
or
continuing
care
settings.
SVP
regrets
the
continued
delay
and
uncertainty
surrounding
the
introduction
of
universal
health
care.
• SVP
wants
Government
to
introduce
a
fit
for
purpose
single
tier
health
system
based
on
equal
access
to
equal
care
for
equal
need.
In
the
interim
medical
cards
must
be
available
for
those
on
the
lowest
incomes
and
for
the
cohort
of
children
and
adults
with
chronic
diseases
and
conditions.
Cost
of
prescriptions
The
Alliance
continues
to
be
concerned
at
the
cost
of
prescriptions
in
Ireland.
We
note
that
in
2014,
€1.8bn
out
of
a
total
Irish
health
budget
of
€12.4bn
(14.5%)
was
spent
on
drug
treatment.
We
are
very
conscious
that
Irish
citizens
continue
to
pay
much
higher
prices
for
medication
than
other
Member
States.
• SVP
supports
the
Better
Europe
Alliance’s
recommendations
to
reduce
prescription
costs
for
patients
and
improve
efficiencies
and
transparency
3.
Energy
Poverty
Up
to
28%
of
households
are
thought
to
be
in
energy
poverty.
In
the
recently
published
Government
Strategy
to
combat
energy
poverty4,
from
the
Department
of
Communications,
Energy
and
Natural
Resources,
the
state
has
committed
to
address
the
issue
for
the
following
compelling
social
and
economic
reasons:
• assisting
people
to
move
out
of
poverty
and
reducing
the
burden
on
health
services
• reducing
the
state’s
expenditure
and
reliance
on
imported
fossil
fuels
• supporting
domestic
employment
through
energy
retrofitting
of
homes.
The
objective
of
the
Strategy
is
that
everyone
should
be
able
to
afford
to
adequately
heat
and
power
their
home.
In
order
to
achieve
this,
government
needs
to
implement
a
number
of
key
3
http://www.eapn.ie/eapn/wp-‐content/uploads/2016/04/better-‐europe-‐alliance-‐response-‐to-‐european-‐
commission-‐country-‐report-‐for-‐ireland-‐2016.pdf
4
Department
of
Communications,
Energy
and
Natural
Resources
(2016):
A
Strategy
to
Combat
Energy
Poverty
2016-‐2019,
Dublin
13
commitments.
Timely
roll
out
of
these
is
important
in
order
to
achieve
impact
relatively
quickly
and
ensure
that
other
commitments
are
achieved
over
the
four
year
life
of
the
plan.
SVP
wants
the
following
to
be
achieved
by
the
end
of
2016:
• People
living
in
rented
accommodation
are
twice
as
likely
to
live
in
a
home
with
a
poor
energy
efficiency
rating
(E,
F
or
G
rated
on
the
Building
Energy
Rating
scale)
and
therefore
a
colder
home,
with
higher
risk
of
health
problems.
The
strategy
commits
to
a
public
consultation
to
consider
the
impact
of
the
establishment
of
minimum
energy
efficiency
standards
for
all
rented
properties.
• The
strategy
commits
to
the
development
of
a
new
pilot
initiative
to
enable
landlords
involved
in
the
local
authority-‐led
Housing
Assistance
Payment
(HAP)
schemes
to
avail
of
free
energy
efficiency
upgrades,
alongside
the
recently
announced
enhanced
tax
credits.
Similarly,
housing
association
tenants
are
to
become
eligible
for
the
current
Better
Energy
Warmer
Homes
Scheme.
Thirdly,
the
eligibility
criteria
for
existing
energy
efficiency
schemes
are
to
be
expanded
to
capture
more
people
suffering
basic
deprivation.
• A
retrofitting
fund,
totalling
€20m
in
2016
alone,
piloting
innovative
community-‐led
approaches
to
address
energy
poverty
through
the
SEAI’s
Better
Energy
Communities
Scheme
to
be
delivered.
Lastly
a
new
multi-‐annual
€20
million
pilot
scheme
over
the
next
three
years,
involving
the
Department
of
Energy,
the
HSE,
Department
of
Health
and
Sustainable
Energy
Authority
of
Ireland
(SEAI)
has
been
committed
to
by
Government.
The
project
will
target
people
in
energy
poverty
who
suffer
from
acute
health
conditions
that
may
be
exacerbated
by
living
in
an
energy
inefficient
home
with
deep
retrofits,
and
should
demonstrate
the
multiple
benefits
that
energy
efficiency
provides.
Collaborative
working
between
statutory
bodies;
adequate
funds;
a
robust
data
gathering
system
and
links
with
‘trusted
intermediaries’
are
required
to
ensure
the
best
outcomes
for
this
project.
14
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