Poverty

What did people say about having enough income?

• 58% of people (from all 3 areas equally) said access to employment opportunities was difficult or very difficult.

• Half of people said they could “usually afford basics like heat, food, clothes, transport and health care”.

• But over one in ten people said they could hardly ever or never afford these.

• Nearly three quarters said they had had to do without these at some point in the last six months.

• Nearly half never had disposable income left over to take part in social activities.

What does human rights say about an adequate income?

Human rights law says that governments need to make sure that everyone has enough income to afford basic necessities, with support available for families, children and disabled people. That can include making sure that social security payments are high enough to cover people’s costs.

“The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions”

Intl Covenant on Economic and Social Rights Art. 11.1

“States Parties … shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing”

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art 27.3

What people said about having their voices heard

• Nine out of ten people reported feeling wholly excluded from decision making by South Dublin County Council and the Irish Government, across all areas from budgets to safety to housing matters and beyond.

• 90% of people never feel listened to or included by any public authority. This is a damning indictment in a democracy

• The group people reported feeling most supported by was teachers; the least, local elected representatives.

What human rights says about having your voice heard

Human rights laws say that everyone should have the right to participate in the decisions which affect their lives - on big matters and on small.

“Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity…(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives; (b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; (c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country”

Irish law and policy also sets out that people should be included in decisions about their lives and their areas.