At the Eradication of Poverty event in Kells (back row, from left) were: Patricia Hehir, Trim FRC; Teresa Morley, Connect FRC, Drogheda; Angie McKenna, Mullaghmatt FRC, Monaghan; Noeleen Douglas, Focus FRC, Killeshandra; Susan Keenan, Trim FRC; Rex Lee, Danny Cusack, Michael McGovern and Niamh Matth

Kells talk highlights the fact that poverty still a real issue

Published: Wed 26 Oct 2011, 4:48 PM

Participants in an event to mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at the Kells People's Resource Centre heard a poignant speech from a Kells man on the impact of poverty on himself as a lone parent and on other families he had spoken to in the north-east region. A representative from the Trim Family Resource Centre said that poverty was not only about the money in someone's pocket, it had many forms, including rural isolation, lack of access to transport, information, education and services. The North-East Family Resource Centre's awareness raising event was hosted by the Kells Centre last week. Packie Kelly of the Monaghan Family Resource Centre gave a brief introduction to the role of Family Resource Centres in the eradication of poverty in the communities in which they operate. FRCs are ideally situated to support communities to address these issues through social interventions such as information sessions and supports for people facing poverty to help address the needs they face on daily basis. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is a UN-designated day. Its aim is to highlight the struggles faced by poor people throughout the world, and to directly involve people who live in poverty in events and activities aimed at addressing poverty-related issues. Packie Kelly said: "By hosting this event, we want to highlight the struggles faced by poor people in Ireland and throughout the world. We also want to remind people that, even though Ireland is a developed country, poverty still exists here. "We work in an area of disadvantage, and we see how poverty affects the community on a daily basis. "Poverty has always been a real and tangible problem in Ireland. "It was here during the good years of the Celtic Tiger, and it has been exacerbated by the current recession. For example, 16.3 per cent of Irish children now live in poverty, which is well above the OECD average of 12.7 per cent." The aim of the Family Resource Centre programme is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. The programme emphasises involving local communities in tackling the problems they face, and creating successful partnerships between voluntary and statutory agencies at community level.