“It is difficult to see how Government was unable to do more, given an overall €9.4 billion budget package, to tackle what must be considered one of the greatest challenges we face as a society,” said Dr Sally Anne Corcoran, Advocacy and Engagement Manager at COPE Galway.
Dr Corcoran pointed to record levels of homelessness and the devastating impact this has on people’s lives – particularly for the more than 5,000 children currently living in emergency accommodation such as B&Bs and hotels.
“The long-term effects of homelessness on children’s wellbeing, education and future opportunities are profound,” she said. “What makes this even more disheartening is the scale of the daily challenges faced by our professional teams and other agencies including our local authorities, to support people experiencing homelessness. As we head into the winter months, with limited resources, it can sometimes feel hopeless.”
Domestic abuse response – progress, but not enough
COPE Galway welcomed the €11.5 million in additional funding for domestic and gender-based violence initiatives announced in the budget.
“This is a positive step, particularly given the epidemic levels of violence against women in Ireland,” said Dr Corcoran. “However, further funding is essential to fully implement the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, provide legal aid and ensure access to refuge and move-on, long-term housing nationwide.”
Older people and income support
The charity also expressed concern that the €10 increase in basic social welfare and pension rates falls short of what is needed to address inflation and protect people on the lowest incomes.
“In our pre-budget submission, we called for a minimum €15 weekly increase and for social welfare rates to be indexed to average earnings to ensure income adequacy,” explained Dr Corcoran. “When you consider the Government’s commitment to increase the State Pension to €350 per week during its lifetime, this €10 increase is very disappointing.”
“People in our community who are living through their most vulnerable times have been forgotten,” Dr Corcoran concluded. “Budget 2026 is a missed opportunity that leaves too many behind.”
For further information, contact: Colette Coughlan, Marketing and Communications Lead, COPE Galway – 085 858 9781 / ccoughlan@copegalway.ie
Further information
COPE Galway is a local charity providing essential social services in Galway. We respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, women and children subjected to domestic abuse, and we support older people towards healthy, independent ageing.
Our vision is for a community where every person is valued, cared for and supported at every stage of life. We are driven by the belief that everyone should have access to their basic human rights. We advocate for systemic change to address the root causes of inequality.
We have been improving lives and strengthening communities for 60 years. We work with more than 3,000 people each year across our homeless, domestic abuse and senior support services.