The Combat Poverty Agency must stay

Ireland’s largest social housing provider has expressed serious concern at recent speculation about the uncertain future of the Combat Poverty Agency. Respond! Housing Association has defended the important role of the CPA in providing independent, evidence-based research. The housing charity claims the Combat Poverty Agency is critical in identifying and analysing the causes of poverty in Ireland and then providing a framework for addressing the problems.

According to Fr. Pat Cogan, ofm, Chief Executive Officer Respond!:
“The existence of an independent body is essential if we are serious about tackling the growing levels of poverty in this country. The Combat Poverty Agency on behalf of the poor offers a critical assessment of Government Policy and highlights areas of grave concern. This is even more important in the current economic climate. It would be totally unacceptable for the CPA to be abolished or its role diminished.”

The function of the Combat Poverty Agency is to provide research and advice to the Government, State Agencies and Local Authorities in order to eliminate poverty. Latest statistics available from the Agency show that almost 300,000 people are living in consistent poverty in Ireland. This is defined as being unable to afford essentials such as a proper meal or winter coat. In addition, more than 700,000 people are at risk of poverty.

“The Combat Poverty Agency has done excellent work in identifying poverty and disadvantage” added Pat Cogan. “It is the most vulnerable members of Irish society who will suffer if the CPA is abolished and we simply cannot allow that to happen. Government personnel may feel uncomfortable with the critique of the CPA; the view expressed some years ago from government was that such critiques came from what was termed the “poverty industry”. We hope that such a perception does not underlie any government thinking to downgrade the CPA.”

Respond! is an anti-poverty organisation which aims to help eliminate poverty through the provision of housing, education, community development and family resource initiatives. The organisation supplies housing to those unable to do so through their own resources and has provided more than 4,000 units of accommodation nationally.

“With more than 25 years experience of social housing in Ireland, we are aware of the difficulties being experienced by people on a daily basis, especially those in social housing. Our recent research has shown that more people are being forced to live below the poverty line and this situation is only going to worsen as rapid increases in food and fuel prices occur. While savings in Government expenditure may need to be made, it should not be our poorest and most vulnerable citizens who suffer” concluded Fr. Cogan.