Poverty and Quality of Life: National and International Perspectives

This conference will feature the publication of a new research report for the Department of Social Protection titled Social Risk and Social Class Patterns in Poverty and Quality of Life in Ireland. The report draws on the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) to examine trends in income poverty and deprivation for different social risk groups (such as lone parents, people with a disability and children) and social classes over the ten-year period between 2004 and 2013. It looks at trends across social classes and the life-course focusing on social-risk groups such as lone parents, people with a disability and children. The report also examines the quality of life (QoL) problems facing these groups in 2013.

Mr Leo Varadkar, TD, Minister for Social Protection will speak at the event. Additionally, an international keynote speaker will present complementary research on quality of life and a panel of discussants will consider the research findings and their implications for policy. The conference will conclude by reflecting on the research, policy implications and plenary discussions.

Programme: The full programme for the event is available to download here.

Presentations: The presentations from the conference are available to download at the links below.

  • Dorothy Watson, Associate Research Professor, ESRI: Download
  • John-Mark McCafferty, Head of Social Justice and Policy, Society of St Vincent de Paul: Download
  • Anthony McCashin, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Social Policy, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin: Download
  • Claire Wallace, Chair of Sociology, School of Social Science & Director, New Research Centre, University of Aberdeen Download
  • Helen Johnston, Senior Social Policy Analyst, National Economic and Social Council Download