Poverty

(i) Is being without adequate food, clothing and shelter.

(ii) Deprivation can vary from society to society.

(iii) NAPS definition: If income and resources (material, cultural and

social) are so inadequate as to preclude them from a standard of living which is regarded as acceptable by Irish society generally. As a result of inadequate income and resources they are excluded and marginalised from taking part in activities which are considered the norm for other people in society.

©PDST Home Economics

Poverty

Absolute Poverty

Relative Poverty

Consensual Poverty

Relative Poverty

I am hungry...if we had a computer we could have ordered food through a

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Poverty LineA tool to measure poverty

• Refers to the minimum amount of money a person needs to provide for basic needs.

• It differs from society to society.

• It is measured to the relative average household disposable income.

• People who have less than half the average income on which to survive are generally regarded as below the poverty line.

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Effects on Poverty

•High unemployment + recession leads to a rise in poverty

•Low unemployment + boom economy leads to a drop in poverty.

History of Poverty in Ireland

Dropped in early 1970s

Rose in late 1970s

Rose in 1980s

Dropped in 1990s due to Celtic Tiger

Continued to drop 2004 -2007

Rose from 2008 to current times…

Groups at Risk

Unemployed Low Paid Lone ParentSick

DisabledOlder People

Travellers

Less Ed.Skills

Children+

50% below Median

Poverty TrapWork lessIncome

InadequateSocial welfare

High medicalExpensesInsurancetransport

PensionsLess income

DiscriminationSocial exclusion

Low EdHomelessness

Deprivation Deprivation is assessed by using non-monetary

indicators e.g. Not owning a winter coat Not owning two pairs of shoes Experiencing any debt problems in the last month…

Consistent Poverty:

The combination of Income Poverty (fallingbelow the poverty line) and Deprivation

Measuring Poverty

CSO Central Statistic Office The official statistics on poverty in Ireland are

compiled by the CSO.

Poverty threshold - 60% of median income €12,455 pa / €239.47 per week

At Risk 2008 14.4% 610,538

Consistent2008 4.2% 178,074

Causes of Poverty

Use this graphic organiser when summarising a topic or when investigating multiple cause and effects factors associated with a complex topic and how they interrelate.

Poverty

Culture Social Welfare

UnemploymentPoor Education

Malnutrition

Lack of confidenceFeeling of failure

Deprived childhood

Low income

Low work ethic

Role model values and behaviour of Parent

Social welfare high

No incentive to work

Dependency culture

Social welfare low Cycle

revolves

GeographicalLocation

Housing/high rise

Poverty black spots

Inner cities

Local authority housing

Social stigma

Industrial +Social Change

Less skilled…

Higher cost of living

Housing Cost

Prohibitive mortgagecosts

Shortage of social housing

Cycle ofDeprivation

Effects of Poverty

• Stress• Psychology Problems…depression etc.• Malnutrition• Serious chronic illness• Homelessness• Poor standards of Education• Sub standard housing

Impact of Poverty on Children

• Exclusion from everyday social activities and experiences of other children.

• Early school learning and unfulfilled educational potential.

• Exposure to drug and alcohol abuse, anti-social behaviour and early lone motherhood.

Poverty Trap

If an unemployed individual (who is in receipt of a

number of means-tested state benefits) should find employment and return to work. The result may be that their gains in income can be lost if some or all of the means-tested benefits are withdrawn as a result of their return to employment.

Influence of Social Policy on Poverty

EU Social Policy – EU sets out guidelines on poverty for

EU member states.

• Ireland’s social policy provides adequate income to meet the needs of those receiving state benefits.

• State benefits in Ireland are long term and generous in comparison to other Western countries.

• Housing, education, employment, taxation and healthcare policies all affect poverty.