COPE Galway outline priorities ahead of Budget

Isolation, homelessness and domestic abuse

A GALWAY charity has urged the government to make tackling homelessness, domestic abuse and social isolation key priorities in the Budget 2027.

In its prebudget submission, COPE Galway has sought targeted investment across the services and communities it supports, with particular focus on people experiencing or at risk of poverty.

It focused on issues like family homelessness, asking for full resourcing of the forthcoming Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan and investment in measures that prevent families from becoming homeless in the first place.

A recent homelessness report highlighted that 5,830 children were living in emergency accommodation in August, almost one in three of the 17,885 people recorded as homeless.

“When a family has no option but to live in emergency accommodation, we must all do everything we can to make that period as short as possible and to reduce the impact on children,” said Martina O’Connor, Assistant CEO of COPE Galway.

The charity is also calling for stronger support for victims of domestic abuse, changes that can help remove perpetrators of the abuse from the family home, a pathway for refuge into social housing and better access to legal support for victims and survivors.

It further highlighted the need for resourcing a National Action Plan to tackle loneliness and social isolation.

With the number of people aged over 65 projected to double by 2051, the charity says more has to be done to support people to age well and remain connected to their communities.

It also called for an increase in core social welfare rates and targeted increases to the Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package, to reflect the real cost of living and help low-income households manage accelerating energy costs.

“Budget 2027 is an opportunity to make practical investments and respond to the pressures facing people across communities,” continued Ms O’Connor.