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Inequality flourishing in the 26-Counties

31/07/07

A report on income levels in the Twenty-Six Counties has revealed how  inequality and poverty remain central to the lives of many people in the state.

The Household Budget Survey, compiled by the Central Statistics Office, was released on Thursday (July 26) and shows the poorest families have a weekly disposable income of just €158 (£106).  The comparable figure for the wealthiest families is a staggering €2,233 (£1,502).

The survey was published following detailed analysis of the budgets of 6,884 households across the state over a period of 14 months.

The figures show that the poorest 10 per cent of households (€158) have an income which amounts to a fifth of the state average. However, the spending these households incur (€217/£146) leaves them nearly €60 (£40) in debt each week.
On the other hand, the state’s wealthiest enjoy a weekly income of at least €2,233 (£1,502)  — three times the average — of which they spend €1,660 (£1,119), double the state average, with €574 (£387) left to spare every week.

Even more worrying is that fact that this inequality income is on the increase.  The CSO report shows the richest 10 per cent of people earn 14 times the amount earned by the poorest 10 per cent.  When the last survey was conducted in the late 1990s, the multiple was 13 times.

éirígí spokesperson Brian Leeson said the findings highlighted the need for a dramatic reappraisal of how the Twenty-Six Counties, and Ireland as a whole, measures economic growth.

“The so called ‘Celtic Tiger’ is routinely presented as being an entirely positive phenomenon.  However, despite the length of time it has been with us, it has proven completely incapable of eradicating social and economic inequality in our society – indeed this figures demonstrate that it has in fact accentuated inequality.’

“Any economic system which produces such glaring disparities in the disposable income of otherwise equal human beings is unacceptable.

“And that is what the ‘Celtic Tiger’ – an economic model that by its inherent nature disproportionately benefits those who already hold wealth.  Hackneyed as is sounds the fact is now established that the rich are getting rich while the poor are getting poorer.

Brian continued: “To reverse this trend in growing inequality and to lift every last family out of poverty, we need an economic system that measures success in terms of human, not corporate, development.

“Such an economic system would stand or fall on its ability to utilise the resources of the Irish nation for the benefit of all the people of Ireland, not for a small capitalist class who profit from the work of others.”