Minimum Essential Budget Standards

Raise Awareness of the Impact of Poverty in an Affluent Ireland

As a result of working with people in disadvantaged communities, the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice is very aware of the struggle of people on low income to live with dignity. Since 2000 the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice has undertaken a number of studies to raise awareness of the daily reality of living on a low income.

The aim of these studies is to:

1. Make available detailed information on the actual cost of a minimum essential standard of living for 6 household types
2. Provide the foundations for a national database for minimum essential budget standards, which can be developed and modified for application to different family types.
3. Lobby for a more adequate level of income for people in receipt of social welfare payments and the minimum wage.

Since 2000 the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice has undertaken the following studies:

• One Long Struggle - A Study of Low Income Families, 2001 Ref only
• One Long Struggle - A Study of Low Income Families, 2001 Summary Version
• Low Cost but Acceptable Budgets for Three Households, 2004
• Minimum Essential Budgets for Six Households, 2006
• The 2006 figures have been updated. It is intended to update the figures on an annual basis as a resource for the SVP and of other agencies committed to the eradication of poverty.
• The new website containing the updated figures launched- www.budgeting.ie
• Menus based on 2006 Study
• 2008 update of 2006 Study
• 2007 update of 2006 Study
• Minimum Essential Budgets for Six Households Comparative Study of Four Urban Locations for the Period 2006-2008
• 2009 Expenditure Guidelines for Six Households
• 2010 Expenditure Guidelines for Six Households
• 2010 REPORT Minimum Essential Budgets For Households in Rural Areas
• 2010 Appendicies Minimum Essential Budgets for Households in Rural Areas
• 2011Expenditure Guidelines for Six URBAN Households
• 2011 Expenditure Guidelines for Six RURAL Households
• Minimum Essential Budgets for 6 Housheholds Policy Impllications of Changes in Minimum Essential Budgets 2006-2008
• 2012 Minimum Income Standard for Ireland
• 2012 The Cost of A Child

The launch of each study was attended by politicians, civil servants, policy makers and members of N.G.O.s. Members of the Focus Groups were interviewed by T.V., RTE Radio and the printed media.

Weekly Budgets for Households 2012

The information sheets below were prepared as a resource for agencies and community groups for their work with ‘people on the ground’ e.g. as an aid to money management, the preparation of household budgets.

Weekly Budgets for Urban Households 2012

Weekly· Budgets for Rural Households 2012

A Minimum Income Standard Calculator - in 2012 a new website was launched www.Misc.ie

The Minimum Income Standard shows the income people need in order to afford the goods and services that members of the public have agreed are a minimum essential for everyone in Ireland to have. This is a minimum standard that people agree no one should live below.

This calculator allows you to see the minimum for your household type.

Further information visit our website www.budgeting.ie

• In 2007 the V.P.S.J. was invited by EAPN to contribute to an EU project on minimum Social Standards
  Commissioned a study of Young Mothers – a study of young single mothers in two communities, 2000
  Facilitated two Active Citizenship Groups to produce the following
  • “Crumbs from the Celtic Tiger” 1998,
  • “The Cost of Keeping on Their Feet” 1999
  • “The Drug Problem in Ballyfermot” 2000 - The Cherry Orchard Active Citizenship Group

Road Safety and Wheelchair Access Advocacy Position Papers presented by the Killinarden Family Resource Centre Active Citizenship Group.