INOU Launches Publications to mark UN Eradication of Poverty day

17 Oct 2005

The 17th October is the designated UN Eradication of Poverty day. To mark this day, the INOU has published 1,000 posters and 10,000 leaflets. The posters and postcards, are aimed at people experiencing poverty in Ireland and with a view to informing both welfare recipients and people in low-paid employment of social welfare entitlements that are available to them.

“One of our key messages will be to encourage people to apply for and take-up any benefits that they may be entitled to but which they are not currently receiving” said Eric Conroy, INOU General Secretary. “We are asking people who are in receipt of a social welfare payment or who are working in low paid employment to contact either ourselves or many of the various Resource Centres throughout Ireland to check they are receiving all their entitlements.”

In the context of the very significant income inequalities in Ireland, these publications aim to inform those most at risk of poverty of ways to maximise their incomes through the tax and social welfare systems. The publications seek to redress current information deficits that have resulted in the low take-up of certain payments and benefits, for example Family Income Supplement and the Medical Card.

Leading up to the 17th of October the posters and leaflets, which were funded by the Combat Poverty Agency, were distributed throughout the country to INOU Affiliate organisations, Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA), Public Libraries, FAS, Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), Citizens Information Centres and Jobs Clubs.