I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 26 together.
Out of Sight – The Hidden Poverty of Women, published recently by the National Women's Council, is a welcome initiative to ensure that the full extent of women's poverty can be identified and addressed.
Women are at a significant risk of poverty and some predominantly female groups, such as lone parents, are at a very high poverty risk. The Government is strongly committed to eliminating poverty for all our people, including women and children. One of the main principles underlying the national anti-poverty strategy is the reduction of inequalities and in particular, addressing the gender dimensions of poverty.
Women's poverty has been identified as a central issue for consideration in the review of the national anti-poverty strategy provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. As part of the review, existing national anti-poverty strategy targets will be revised as appropriate and consideration will be given to possible new targets under the themes of women's poverty, child poverty, older people, health and housing and accommodation. Working groups are currently being established, with representation from the social partners, towards this end.
The programme also underlines the need to improve data and data collection systems for the monitoring and evaluation of poverty, including new studies to address the gender dimension of poverty. A meeting has taken place between representatives of the National Women's Council of Ireland and officials of my Department with a view to addressing the need for improved data for policy making and work is under way to ensure that groups who are currently not included in the poverty figures, such as Travellers and the homeless, are fully recorded.