33. SJI Interviews Ep17: The Hidden Cost of Poverty with Dr. Tricia Keilthy and Dr. Micheál Collins

The public service cost of not addressing the causes of poverty is estimated at between €3 billion and €7.2 billion per year.  This report, the Hidden Cost of Poverty, Estimating the Public Service Cost of Poverty in Ireland, highlights what is behind these numbers.  In looking behind those headline numbers, the report delves into the costs associated with reduced health outcomes for people in poverty; educational disadvantage; housing supports; welfare supports; supports for children and families; and the cost to the justice system and emergency services.  It's well worth checking out.

In this episode of our SJI Interviews series, Colette Bennett is joined by Dr. Tricia Keilthy, Head of Social Justice with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul who commissioned the report, and Dr. Micheál Collins, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, in UCD who conducted the research and wrote the report.