housing

At the launch of its Budget 2024 briefing today, Social Justice Ireland called for a monthly increase of €50 in child benefit payments for all.  

An ambitious new ten-year national policy designed to support vibrant and sustainable island communities was launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys this morning.

South Munster Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has reported an increase in requests for assistance following the lifting of the eviction ban on March 31. MABS, which provides free advice to anyone who wants help in managing their money and taking control of debt, has experienced a significant increase in referrals from over 65s in particular.

“I can’t go to any bar. They hear my accent, look at my appearance and they think I’m violent, it’s that negative stereotype," - Martin Mongan, Donegal Travellers Project A major study of Travellers’ lives in Dublin published in mid-February pointed to racism and discrimination for directly leading to many Traveller suicides. Research among a smaller group, focused specifically on Traveller men’s mental health, came to the same conclusion. This study was launched in December in Donegal and it marked the first time that Travellers themselves conducted all the research. Facilitated by David Friel, the first Traveller in the North West to be educated to Masters level, the research paints a picture of the daily lives of 12 Traveller men living in Donegal.

- However, only "paltry increase" in funds for Traveller and Roma accommodation

NATIONAL policy is making rural poverty worse, according to a recent study on poverty and social exclusion in Co Clare.

Is gentrification stealing Dublin city from its people? “We have a great fear as this land is such rich land,” says Rita Fagan of Inchicore. “We see a hollowing out of traditional communities,” says Noel Wardick of Dublin City Community Co-operative. Both talk to journalist Laoise Neylon.

Profiteering is coming at the expense of communities whose social fabric is being torn asunder. The inner-city has become a construction site, as one community activist sees it, with cranes surrounding us as we speak.