An Interview with Nessan Vaughan

by Gordon Nary

Gordon: Tell us about your childhood and your parents.

Nessan: I grew up in a large family. There were ten of us children. We didn’t have much money or luxuries but were very happy. We looked out for each other.

I’m very lucky to have always felt very loved and special by my parents.

I miss them grievously as I do my two brothers, Noel and Tom, who were called to eternal life at a young age a few years ago.

Gordon: Where did you attend school and what were your favourite subjects?

Nessan: I attended St Fintan’s High School, Sutton, Dublin 13. It was a Christian Brother school. We received a good broad education.

My favourite subjects were History and French.

My intellectual development flourished in my twenties when I broadened my reading and became very interested in justice, inequality and poverty, informed by my reading, by people I met and by my Christian values.

Gordon: Please provide a history of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) Ireland.

Nessan:  The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) was founded in Ireland in 1844. It is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland.

During our history, SVP has helped people in need through Famine, a Civil War, a War of Independence, two World Wars and several economic recessions.

They  take a hands-on approach to combating poverty, dedicating ourselves to reducing its effects on individuals and families. We engage directly with those in need through our unique family visitation system.

Their mission is to champion social justice and secure equal opportunities for everyone.

The first Conference (branch) of the Society of St Vincent de Paul was set up in Dublin in 1844, a year before the great Famine or An Gorta Mór, when millions were starved.

Conferences began to form throughout the entire country, largely organised on a parish basis, throughout the 32 counties.

There are approximately 11,000 volunteers in SVP who undertake vital work in supporting people who need our help: visiting and bringing material support to families and individuals every week; providing emergency accommodation through hostels; assisting in our many charity shops; visiting those in prisons and hospitals, etc.

SVP has supported those in need throughout many significant events and times: the 1916 Rising; the War of Independence; the Civil War; two World Wars; numerous economic recessions; the banking collapse and, more recently, Covid-19 pandemic.

SVP in Ireland has three main aims:

• to provide support and friendship to people in need

• to help people become self-sufficient and independent in line with respect for their dignity

• to advocate for social justice in Ireland

Gordon: When were you appointed Chair of the SVP Justice Committee and what are your primary responsibilities?

Stefan: About 7 years ago.  The Committee provides overall direction and guidance to the Social Justice and Policy team; agrees policy priorities and advocacy campaigns; oversees the development of our annual Pre-Budget Submission; provides valuable information to the Social Justice team on emerging issues based on feedback from members’ family visitations.

My job is to chair the committee meetings and prepare for same. I also work closely between meetings with the Head of Social Justice and Policy Team in discussing issues and the work of the team. Occasionally, I represent SVP on the media (TV, radio, newspapers, seminars) and make presentations.

I am very privileged to serve. 

Gordon: Tell us about the poverty in Ireland and how the government needs to address it.

Nessan: Despite Ireland’s great wealth and economic success, there are significant levels of poverty. Irrespective of what measures are used (number of people in poverty/at risk of poverty/experiencing material deprivation), hundreds of thousands of individuals are struggling to make ends meet.

We live, like most capitalist countries, in an unequal society where many have great wealth while, side by side, there are families and children who are worried about how to get through the week or are in fear of some one-off or unexpected expense: funeral; a household utility needing to be replaced; sudden health issue.

Government needs to prioritise the elimination of poverty with specific timelines for achieving this. All public policy and budgetary measures should be poverty-proofed.

We have the resources to achieve this; what’s lacking is real political will.

Gordon: Tell us about the housing challenges in Ireland and what the government needs to do to address this challenge.

Nessan: This is one of the biggest challenges facing government and society. Most people cannot afford to purchase a home based on one income, even on two incomes; many also find it impossible to afford a mortgage to purchase an average priced home.

We need to ratchet up the building of houses, on publicly owned land, through Local Authorities. An increase in cost rental homes and social and affordable homes is imperative, working in collaboration with social housing bodies.

Converting derelict and under-utilised buildings can also make a contribution to addressing the housing crisis.

Measures also need to be taken to prevent people being forced into homelessness through evictions and lack of adequate means to pay rent to private landlords.

We have outlined specific measures in our Pre-Budget Submission

Gordon: What church do you attend and what do you appreciate most about your church.

My local church is the Church of the Assumption, Howth, Co Dublin. Even though I don’t live in Howth (where I grew up), I live close by and am a Minister of the Word there.

It’s a beautiful small church situated in the heart of the beautiful fishing village. I feel very part of the community when attending Mass and other services there.

I like the intimacy of the setting. I was baptised there and made my First Holy Communion, First Confession and Confirmation in that church.

For me it represents continuity with the past while being firmly rooted in the present and alive to the hope of the Resurrection.

Gordon. Thank you for a great interview and helping us learn more about Ireland.