Social Services affect everyone in Irish society. Over two-fifths of the population is in receipt of weekly social welfare payments, one-third of the population is entitled to free health services, one-fiften of the population is engaged in full-time education and most of the housing stock has been either provided or subsidised by the state. Despite recent cutbacks, about four-fifths of government current expenditure is allocated to social services.
Irish Social Services 5th Edition provides an up-to-date guide to the evolution, nature and scope of, and to the issues associated with, the key social services in Ireland – social welfare, housing education, health. It also covers the welfare of certain groups in society such as older people and people with disabilities, the role of voluntary organisations, poverty and equality issues.
Of particular relevance to students and practitioners in the field of social administration, this book will also be of benefit to those interested in the often complex means by which key social needs are met in Ireland.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
What is social policy?
Aims of social policy
Importance and relevance of social services
Factors and influencing social service provision
Social policy analysis
- Income Maintenance
Introduction
Types of income maintenance schemes
Evolution of income maintenance system
Changes in terminology
Main features of social insurance schemes
Other social welfare schemes
Beneficiaries of social welfare
Financing and expenditure
Administration
Commission on Social Welfare
Developments post commission’s report
Income adequacy
Basic income
Child income support
Reducing expenditure on income maintenance schemes
- Housing
Introduction
Administration
Evolution of policy and output
Housing stock
Planning housing need
Tenure sectors
Homelessness
Developments and issues in the 1990s
Housing in a changing context
- Education
Introduction
First-level education
Second-level education
Third-level education
Adult education
Participation in education
Educational disadvantage
Evolution of policy
Decentralisation issues
- Health Services
Introduction
Evolution of services
Evolution of administrative structures
Eligibility for health services
The public/private mix
Health service delivery
Rationalisation of hospital facilities
Financing the health services
Irish health care in a European context
- Welfare of Certain Groups
Introduction
Older people
Child welfare
People with disabilities
The Travelling community
- Voluntary Social Service Organisations
Introduction
Categories of voluntary organisations
Evolution of voluntary activity
Funding of voluntary organisations
Statutory/voluntary relationships
The Charities Act, 2009
Consultation and partnership
Active citizenship
- Poverty and Exclusion
Introduction
Measurement of poverty
Poverty as an issue
National Anti-Poverty Strategy
- Equality Issues
Introduction
First commission’s report
Second commission’s report
Revised quality legislation
Equality agencies
Other landmark equality measure
Equality in a changing environment