Current MESL Data
What is Minimum Essential Budget Standards research?
The research is focus group led, working with members of the public to establish social consensus on what is needed for a minimum living standard. The research is informed by expert knowledge as needed, e.g. nutrition. It produces detailed household budgets which establish what is needed for an acceptable Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL), for 90% of households in Ireland.
An MESL:
- is a standard of living which no one should be expected to live below
- is decided by members of the public, agreeing on what is needed to live at an acceptable dignified standard and participate in Irish society
- is the minimum needed to live and partake in Irish society today, meeting the physical, psychological and social needs of individuals and households
- is a minimum standard for everyone, not just those in poverty
- counts the actual weekly cost of all the over 2,000 items (goods and services) needed to enable a socially acceptable minimum standard of living
- is a unique benchmark, grounded in the lived experience of people, which complements other poverty measures. It shines a light on the extent to which individuals and households can afford a minimum standard of living
Welcome
The Minimum Essential Budget Standards (MEBS) Research Centre was established by the VPSJ in 2016, as the next step in over 17 years of income adequacy research (of which 15 years focused on budget standards research). The VPSJ has pioneered the use of the Consensual Budget Standards methodology in Ireland and its application to establishing minimum expenditure and income needs.
The VPSJ’s MEBS research centre continues to be the only organisation carrying out this work in Ireland. The distinctive strength of the research approach is its grounding in reality and lived experience of people.
Through this research the VPSJ plays an active role in trying to ensure a fairer society for all.
The minimum standards data is widely used in the policy debate across government departments, in analysis by NGOs, contributes to the annual Budget process, and at a practical level it is used by organisations working directly with people such as SVP and MABS. Furthermore, the research forms the basis of the ISI’s reasonable living expenses and the Living Wage calculations.
The role of the MEBS Research Centre is to continue this crucial research, providing evidence to inform policy on the income and supports required to overcome poverty and social exclusion.
Issued: October 2020
MESL Impact Briefing
This the VPSJ's 10th annual MESL impact briefing, in response to Budget 2021. This briefing analyses the impact of the Budget in the context of the Minimum Essential Standards research, benchmarking …
Issued: July 2020
MESL Pre-Budget Submission
This submission to Government presents evidence based policy recommendations, based on the MESL 2020 analysis of minimum needs and income adequacy. The VPSJ welcomes the opportunity to make this …
Issued: July 2020
In advance of the publication of the full MESL 2020 update report and detailed analysis, the following MESL expenditure data and income adequacy assessments are being made available. Core MESL …
Issued: June 2020
Bernadette Mac Mahon & Robert Thornton
Minimum Income Standards and Reference Budgets edited by Chris Deeming, includes a chapter on the Minimum Essential Standards of Living research in Ireland written by Bernadette Mac Mahon and Robert …
Issued: December 2019
Discussion of findings
Presentation form VPSJ Research Team on 2018/19 Review and Rebase.
Budget 2021: MESL Impact Briefing
Issued: October 2020
This the VPSJ's 10th annual MESL impact briefing, in response to Budget 2021. This briefing analyses the impact of the Budget in the context of the Minimum Essential Standards research, benchmarking …
MISc.ie Minimum Income Standard Calculator
The Minimum Income Standard calculator (MISc.ie) provides ready access to tailored data on the minimum expenditure and income needs of the majority of household types across Ireland.
Using MISc.ie you can define specific household compositions and employment scenarios, for households in Urban and Rural areas, and examine their particular minimum expenditure and income needs.
The calculator uses the latest Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) expenditure data, calculating the minimum income households in Ireland require to afford a socially acceptable minimum standard of living.
MISc.ie is currently using the latest 2017 MESL expenditure needs data, and applicable 2018 income rates.