Cork charity head says budget must 'address the long-term causes of poverty’

If the Government is serious about tackling poverty, it needs to address the long-term causes of deprivation, the head of one of Cork’s oldest charities has said.

With Budget 2025 due to be unveiled on Tuesday, October 1, many charities have submitted pre-budget wish-lists.

For Cork Penny Dinners, which is on the frontline helping more than 1,000 people in need each day, the list is a short one.

“The Government needs to address the long-term causes of poverty, it’s as simple as that,” said Caitriona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator of the Little Hanover Street charity.

“There is no point of bringing in a budget that falls short of long-term solutions.

“Giving people a few extra bob in a one-off welfare payment might work for a week, but that’s the end of it then until the next budget.

“Government are simply not looking at long-term solutions, and until they do, they’re at nothing,” Ms Twomey told The Echo.

“They need to start looking at how they can help working people who are on minimum wage, businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open, giving them a reprieve. They need help to people who are elderly, people who are sick, do something to address the epidemic in mental health issues. They need to look at social welfare, and they need to seriously tackle the cost of living.”

False perception

Ms Twomey said there was a false perception that the cost of living was something which only affected the poorest people in society.

“Years ago, people associated Cork Penny Dinners with people who were struggling with substance addictions, men who were a bit too fond of the drink. But these days, while we still help people who have difficulties with addiction, we’re also meeting people who are in jobs, who have mortgages, who are paying for everything else and can’t afford to buy food.

“The numbers coming to us for help are increasing every year. These days we get can anything from 1,000 people coming to us for help every day.”

Concrete measures

She said unless Government took concrete measures to tackle the long-term causes of poverty, things would only continue to worsen.

“Everything needs to be on the table. Education, mental health, generational poverty, disability, addiction, imprisonment, taxation, mortgage relief. Unless the Government starts to think big, nothing will change,” she said.

“It’s like putting a plaster on a puncture and hoping for the best. It’s not going to work.”