by Ciara Murphy Dr Ciara Murphy is the Environmental Justice Advocate for the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice.   “A year ago, thinking about a society of care was utopian; today, in times of coronavirus, it has become utterly urgent and necessary.”[1] The coronavirus has been a great illuminator. Over the course... Read more »

Ireland spends just 0.2% of its GDP on childcare each year, investing the smallest percentage of its GDP in early years of any developed country, and with the greatest reliance on private services. The average spend across Europe is four times as high. When it comes to old age spending, Ireland also sits at the... Read more »

At present there are few options for disabled people to acquire the necessary supports to live independently. This is having a significant impact on disabled people and their families. Disabled people are aging in the family home with their parents. There is a denial of a right to live independently, coupled with an onus on... Read more »

The determined efforts and commitment of Prison Chaplains in the difficult working environment of prisons is clearly evident. While the support of the Irish Prison Service for chaplaincy is regularly acknowledged, the annual reports also highlight shortcomings within the prison system and the wider criminal justice system. 

Co-operatives in the care industry are currently not the norm in Ireland and suffer from their niche position. For the potential of elder care co-operatives to be fulfilled a number of supports and initiatives would need to be implemented.[35] These include support from other co-operatives, increased awareness of co-operatives among care beneficiaries and care sector... Read more »

Over the last twenty years, there has been a remarkable and well-documented collapse of children's engagement with nature – nearly as fast as the collapse of habitats and environmental resources in the natural world itself.