Written Answers. - Anti-Poverty Strategy.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:
32
Proinsias De Rossa
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
if he will increase staffing levels at the national anti-poverty strategy unit as a matter of urgency in view of the national importance of the unit.
[23623/99]
The national anti-poverty strategy, was launched in April 1997 with the overall objective of significantly reducing the
proportion of people in consistent poverty over a ten-year period. Much of the early work following the launch of NAPS was involved with setting up the structures necessary to support and oversee its implementation. There is now a set of struc tures in place to ensure that the issue of social inclusion is central to policy formulation and implementation – from the high level strategic view to the ongoing co-ordination and executive functions necessary to ensure its ongoing implementation.
In line with the principles of the Civil Service strategic management initiative, SMI, NAPS recognises the multi-faceted nature of the problem of social exclusion and, as such, the focus at all times is on a cross-departmental and integrated approach to tackling disadvantage. Each Department retains the lead role in progressing policies under its own areas. This cross-departmental approach is reflected in the mechanisms put in place to oversee the NAPS.
Immediately on taking office, the Government established a Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, chaired by the Taoiseach and including Ministers and Ministers of State from nine relevant Departments, which meets on a monthly basis. It provides an integrated basis for the Government's activities in the social inclusion area in general, ensuring that the strategic priorities are being pursued and that effective co-ordination takes place. As such it provides the essential political leadership necessary to advance the goals of NAPS. A senior officials group comprising high level civil servants from relevant Departments has also been set up to prepare the agenda and recommendations for the Cabinet committee. It is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach.
An interdepartmental policy committee, originally established to develop the strategy, continues to meet four to five times per year and provides the principal strategic focus for the NAPS. It comprises senior civil servants as well as representatives of FÁS, Area Development Management Limited and the Combat Poverty Agency. It considers the ongoing progress on implementation of the strategy as well as progress towards achieving the NAPS targets. This committee remains the key agent for addressing central NAPS issues and agreeing future plans and programmes of activities. The IDPC is co-chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department.
Each relevant Department has appointed a NAPS liaison officer who fulfils an important communication and co-ordination role within Departments. They act as a first point of contact in relation to NAPS issues within Departments and are supported by each Department's IDPC representatives as well as the senior officials group representative, where applicable. The Combat Poverty Agency is assigned a specific role in monitoring and evaluating the strategy as well as providing ongoing support and advice to the NAPS unit and Departments.
A dedicated NAPS unit exists in my Department with responsibility for co-ordinating and developing cross-Departmental action in support of social inclusion initiatives. The unit also acts as a secretariat to the IDPC and liaises with all Government Departments, other agencies, both national and international, and the social partners in promoting and progressing the strategy.
This Government's commitment to tackling social exclusion is clearly demonstrated in the wide range of institutional structures which have been established. The NAPS unit has a pivotal role to play in progressing the overall strategy and resourcing of the unit, including its staffing position, is kept under constant review by my Department.
